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Robbie Williams wins battle with neighbours and is granted permission to cut down fungus-riddled tree at his £17 million London mansion

BBG News

After a dispute with neighbors, musician Robbie Williams successfully fought for the removal of a moldy tree from his 17 million pound London estate, which borders the residence of former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

In October, the singer, aged 50, requested approval from his local government to remove a troublesome Norway maple tree that he claimed was diseased.

He asserted that the tree was afflicted by a particularly harmful fungal infection known as Honey Fungus, which is notorious for being the most devastating fungal disease prevalent in British gardens.

Nevertheless, although the council consented due to the tree’s poor condition and advanced age, the former member of Take That encountered furious opposition from neighbors.

One unnamed neighbour complained: ‘The application has essentially zero detail around it.

There’s no expert analysis from an arborist on this tree, detailing any possible diseases it may have and suggesting preservation or remedial measures for the owner instead of cutting it down.

‘The argument presented lacks clarity on the rationale behind cutting down the tree; instead, there are pictures depicting various sections of it that appear damaged.’

As a devoted tree enthusiast, I find myself pondering: “Isn’t it essential to have a comprehensive written report for every tree-felling proposal? What potential measures can we explore prior to considering the last option of cutting down this cherished tree?

The maple tree is safeguarded under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), which means it can’t easily be cut down. This tree resides in a significantly conserved garden area as well.

In a submission made by tree specialist Michael Goatly from Putney Tree Specialists for Robbie, it was stated: ‘The Norway Maple requires removal because of significant rot at its base, likely caused by Honey Fungus. A replacement tree species will be chosen later on.’

Inquired about the applicant’s worry if the tree’s state could trigger anxiety about it possibly splitting or collapsing, Mr. Goatly checked the ‘Yes’ option instead.

After giving approval, the council noted that the decay of this tree appears to be due to Honey Fungus, and unfortunately, there’s no chemical treatment available for this particular disease.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d advise that it’s time for us to bid farewell to our old tree friend. Due to natural aging, it has exceeded its safe lifespan, making it necessary for us to carefully remove and replace it with a new one.

Despite the fact that this disagreement concerned a property different from the one he jointly owns with Jimmy Page, these two musicians have had conflicts between them on various occasions.

For more than a decade, they’ve been caught up in a deep-seated disagreement due to Jimmy’s opposition to Robbie’s proposal to build an underground swimming pool and gym.

He also protested when Robbie wanted to remove trees along their shared border.

2015 saw Williams being compelled to shelve his renovation project for his Grade II listed property, a task that was previously handled by Page, a resident of the Holland Park house since 1972.

The fellow asserted that the vibrations resulting from excavating a substantial, two-story basement could potentially harm precious frescoes in his neighbor’s Grade I listed property.

In a previous life, The Tower House was crafted with designs by architect William Burges from the 19th century. Notable figures such as poet John Betjeman and actor Richard Harris have previously called it home.

However, after some time, Williams received approval for alterations to his house, commencing the construction process in December of the previous year.

He submitted a report assuring the sound from his pool’s air conditioning system won’t surpass 25 decibels, and his grand basement plans have been given the green light.

Despite Williams having won the overall war, his famous neighbor, a rock star, emerged triumphant in a specific skirmish. This victory meant that when it came to excavating the basement for the singer’s construction project, only hand-held tools could be used, which extended the process significantly and at a high cost.

Previously, the singer from Take That not only trimmed but entirely felled a towering Robinia tree, explaining that it was the source of damage to his garden’s retaining wall (depicted).

In 2017, their disagreement intensified as Williams alleged that the musician was sitting outside his residence to secretly record workers. However, he subsequently retracted his statement once Page clarified that it was unfounded.

Last year, my neighbors levied charges against me for allegedly damaging the environment, specifically due to my intent to prune 14 plants in order to let more sunlight illuminate my residence.

Additionally, he had to wait for 18 long months before successfully removing a decaying Robinia tree from his property. This was following an initial unsuccessful attempt to prove that the tree posed a risk.

As I closely observed, the venerable tree’s aging roots had started to exert pressure on my property’s external wall, causing noticeable fissures that were a stark testament to the passage of time.

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2025-01-08 04:20

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