Robbie Williams WINS bitter war waged by posh neighbours over maple tree at his £17m London mansion
ROBBIE Williams has won the bitter war waged by his furious neighbours over a maple tree at his £17m London mansion.
The Take That star claimed the Norway maple was suffering from Honey Fungus, a deadly root disease and could drop at any moment – but his neighbours did not agree.
Infuriated locals have slammed Williams’ request as “wholly inadequate” due to the exclusion of a qualified arborist’s report.
Despite this, the local council has approved the tree’s demolition as the “over mature” specimen has been found in “poor overall health”.
The rotting tree, which lies in Williams’ garden next to a wall, is near to that of famous rocker, Jimmy Page.
Williams has lived in his historic mansion in Holland Park, Kensington, for more than a decade.
During this time he has attempted to remove trees from the shared border with Page, seeking to cut back 14 plants to allow more light into his own property.
However, in an application sent on behalf of Williams, Michael Goatly of Putney Tree Specialists made claims that the tree continues to be infected with Honey Fungus.
The pest is common in London with particular prevalence in the city’s northern areas, Hampstead and Highgate.
Goatly revealed Williams’ fear that the tree could collapse by ticking “yes” to a question that was part of the application.
Angry letters from neighbours previously sent to the council described four main reasons opposing the felling of the tree.
The first slammed the singer for including “zero supporting detail” around the application.
It showed “no report” from a qualified aboritist to explain the disease nor the tree’s alternative options.
They continued: “All that is attached to the application by way of (scant) information are five or six photographs, one of which is of the whole tree, taken from the road.
“So, the remaining four to five photos are simply close-ups of the bark of a tree; the tree under threat, I presume.
“Just a few snaps; no text, no explanation, no report, no technical details.”
They also described how the “Polaroid snaps” and lack of attachments have never in their “experience” affected “Grade II* planning decisions”.
Attack Williams’ choice of tree surgeon, they said: “According to their website they offer the following services: tree felling, tree reductions, stump removal, hedge planting, tree thinning / reduction.
“Their website also lists ‘tree risk assessment’ as one of their services but (unlike the other five services listed, such as felling or stump removal) there is zero information on this area of their alleged service.
“In short, Putney Tree Surgeons appear to be primarily involved in felling, not assessing nor preserving.
“If the tree has signs of honey fungus then an experienced arborist’s report should be attached to the application, allowing informed stakeholders and the Planning Authority to comment and review.”
The furious objector added: “That a mature tree providing shade, a visual amenity and environmental benefits could be felled whilst it has a TPO on it, is in a Conservation Area and in the grounds of a Grade II* property via (privately decided) delegated authority, where the applicant has not submitted sufficient information to assess the health of the tree, seems wholly inadequate from a planning perspective.
In agreement, another unnamed neighbour said: “There is no explanation as to why this tree needs to be felled, only a series of photos showing parts of it are damaged.
“Should there not be a written report that accompanies each proposed felling and what courses of action could be done before the final resort of felling this tree?”
THE COUNCIL REACTS
Amanda Reid, Director of Planning and Place at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea revealed the tree’s decline over the past few years.
She pointed to its patchier canopy and abnormally small leaves.
Along with two large cavities on the main stem, caused by old pruning wounds.
The maple also has a large piece of bark missing at the base of the stem and has failed to produce any wound wood.
Reid said bark can be pulled from the stem to reveal a white mycelium funcgus and degraded wood beneath.
She concluded: “The decline of this tree looks to have been caused by Honey Fungus and there is no chemical control for this disease.”
However, the tree must be replaced before planting season ends in March, Reid warned Williams.
The star must also avoid noisy fellings at weekends.
The guitarist, 80, has been embroiled in a bitter feud with Williams’ after opposing attempts to build an underground swimming pool and gym.
Led Zeppelin band mate, Page, claimed vibrations caused by digging would damage priceless frescoes in his nearby Grade I listed house, where he has lived for more than 50 years.
They have also fallen out over Williams’ plans to remove tree along their shared border.
The Sun has approached Robbie Williams’ publicist for comment.