ROBBIE Williams has won a bitter row with his neighbours over a disease-riddled maple tree outside his £17million London mansion.
The Take That star claimed the Norway maple – which is near Led Zeppelin rocker Jimmy Page’s home – was suffering from Honey Fungus, a deadly root disease which could see it drop at any moment.
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Robbie submitted plans to fell the tree, but was met with fury from neighbours whose letters to the council slammed the request as “wholly inadequate”.
One angry letter claimed there was “zero supporting detail” to back up the application and insisted there was “no report” from a qualified aboritist to explain the disease or provide alternative options for the tree.
They also moaned how “Polaroid snaps” and lack of attachments have never in their “experience” affected “Grade II planning decisions”.
Despite the objections, Robbie was granted permission to have the tree removed – with the council stating the “over mature” specimen has been found in “poor overall health”.
Robbie has lived in his historic mansion in London’s Kensington for over a decade.
The rotting tree in question is also near to the home of famous Led Zeppelin rocker, Jimmy Page.
The pair have been embroiled in a number of disagreements in the past, with Page opposing Robbie’s attempts to build an underground swimming pool and gym.
Robbie has also previously tried to remove trees between their homes, seeking to cut back 14 plants to allow more light into his own property.
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.
In Robbie’s most recent application to the council – regarding the diseased maple tree – Michael Goatly of Putney Tree Specialists insisted the tree continued 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 Robbie’s 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”.
Attacking 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?”
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 Sun has approached Robbie Williams’ publicist for comment.
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