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Astonished residents across the Forest of Dean were stunned to receive anonymous letters in the post accusing their local council of “false and fraudulent cost claims”.
This week Royal Mail posties delivered envelopes containing five page mailshots which claimed top barristers and lawyers were launching a mass action against the council after it had “been proven” to have made fraudulent cost claims in disputes with residents.
Written entirely in capital letters the widely distributed mailshot claimed Forest of Dean District Council solicitor Helen Blundell was having “her involvement in this matter” examined by the solicitors regulatory authority and asked anybody who wanted to join the “no win, no fee” action to email wildin@wildin.co.uk within seven days.
The email is the same as that of an accountancy business in Lydney, Wildin and Co, founded by Graham Wildin who is in a long running, bitter planning battle over a leisure centre in his back garden that was erected without planning permission.
The council immediately issued a strong rebuttal on its social media page in which it claimed Mr Wildin has made three complaints to the Solicitors Regulation Authority against Ms Blundell who obtained the injunction and costs against him.
It is uncertain who paid for the mailshots and how many were sent out.
But the FODDC statement said it was aware of a number of letters received by “many residents” and went on to address the content of the letter.
“It has not been proven in the High Court that the Council has made fraudulent costs claims as the letter alleges,” it says.
“In fact, the High Court made an award of costs against Graham Wildin after accepting the Council was entitled to its costs. At the same time, the court order warned Mr Wildin that if he disobeyed it, he could be held in contempt of court.
“The Council obtained an injunction against Graham Wildin in November 2018. He had until April 25, 2020 to demolish the leisure building he had built without planning permission and make good the land to its original state.
“As he has disobeyed the court order, proceedings are still ongoing.”
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The statement added: “We can confirm that Helen Blundell is the Council’s solicitor who succeeded in obtaining the injunction against Mr Wildin and has conduct of the ongoing proceedings against him.
“She also obtained payment of the Council’s legal costs by Mr Wildin. So far, Mr Wildin has made three complaints about Mrs Blundell to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.”
Judges can only grant injunctions when it can be proved that somebody is ‘willfully exploiting the planning process” and the High Court in Cardiff gave Mr Graham Wildin “until April” to comply with an enforcement notice that required the removal of the sports and leisure complex from his property.
At the time Mr Wildin claimed knocking down the leisure complex, which includes a cinema and bowling alley, and paying costs of £30,000 would bankrupt him but judge refused to grant the grandfather of five leave to appeal.
Although the leisure centre is still there nothing could be done because the courts were closed during the coronavirus lockdown.
The mailshots have generated widespread anger accountant who once drove a Bentley and has a classic car collection.
One person summed up the scores of comments on the council’s social media page when they wrote: “Fair play to Forest of Dean Council fighting this. Mr Wildin is no different to anyone else. He broke the law & he thought he was above law for planning permission. Keep the good work up & get that building pulled down.”
GloucestershireLive has contacted Ms Blundell for comment.
Mr Wildin, is a partner in an accountancy business in Lydney, Wildin and Co, has been contacted by GloucestershireLive but has not replied.
The receptionist put a reporter through to his office and was told: “He’s not taking any calls I’m afraid.”
He has previously told GloucestershireLive he does not speak to the press.
