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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jeremy Armstrong

Robbie Williams branded 'vandal' by neighbours in row over plan to cut trees down

Robbie Williams has been accused of ‘environmental vandalism’ by his neighbours over plans to take a chainsaw to giant trees in his garden.

The rock star is in hot water again after his long-running feud with heavy metal legend Jimmy Page, who lives next door.

Robbie, 49, wants to prune 14 plants at his mansion in London’s posh Holland Park.

It would take metres off the height as they are blocking light from getting into his home.

He has also applied to chop down others.

Planners are set to visit his home to see if he will be allowed to carry out the work in his garden.

Robbie Williams (AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Robbie's neighbour Jimmy Page (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Paul Smith)

The ‘Angels’ singer, worth a reputed £200m, asked the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for permission to prune back the vegetation.

But it sparked trouble with the neighbours again.

One wrote: “Hello there, I think these trees should be left as chopping down healthy trees is an act of environmental vandalism.

“Shame on anyone wanting to destroy our leafy friends. They give us life - we should respect theirs.”

Another local told officials that he supported the move, however.

“I am fully in favour of this application,” he said. “The trees at the back of the property are disproportionately large for the garden and need some heavy pruning for reasons for safety and appearance.”

Robbie told the council in his application: “Davidia T1 - reduce back long laterals to balance into remaining canopy approx 1m from tips; Bay Laurel T2 - reduce height by approx 2-3m from tips and reduce sides back in by .5m from tips and chamfer into top..

“Chestnut T3 - crown clean and reduce over long limb towards house back by approx 2m from tips and remove damaged branch. Leylandii T14 - now growing into neighbouring trees and outgrown space due to poor position. Fell and replant with species tbc.”

The demands were part of a long list of suggested changes. And Robbie even provided a sketch plan of the trees to assist planners. His neighbour former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy spent five years fighting Robbie’s plans to renovate his £17.5m Grade II listed mansion in west London.

He argued unsuccessfully that vibrations could damage ancient paintings and frescoes in his home, where he has lived for 50 years. Robbie is putting in an indoor pool, gym and underground passageway. His new bid was for a trellis to three sides of the property’s boundary.

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