Robbie Williams facing new property row after being branded ‘a vandal’ by furious neighbours at £17m mansion
ROBBIE Williams has been told he can chop down another tree in his garden in the latest twist in a row that saw the singer accused of “environmental vandalism”.
However, he must go shopping for a new giant plant to replace the doomed birch.
Pop icon Robbie, 49, first applied to remove the 70ft tree at his £17million mansion in late June but was advised it was protected under a tree preservation order.
He angered neighbours with his plans at the time – but has insisted his foundations are being rocked and his wall damaged.
Now he’s been given the go-ahead but has been told he’ll need to introduce a replacement shrub that must be at least 25cm in girth.
Robbie has been told by planners: “The (borough) stipulates that in this case a silver birch (Betula pendula) of 20-25cm girth.
“If the tree(s) is removed outside the planting season the new tree shall be planted in the next planting season following removal (the planting season runs from 1 November to 31 March).
“If it is removed during the planting season the new tree shall be planted in the same planting season. If, within five years of the date of planting, the replacement tree/s dies, is removed or becomes seriously dangerous or diseased, it shall be replaced in the next planting season with another tree/s of the same size and species.”
It comes after Robbie applied to cut back 14 plants around his London home but was blasted by neighbours.
But said earlier this year: “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 previous letter of objection to the council said: “Hello, I wish to object very strongly to this application.
“Mr Williams has already been granted permission to chop down several trees at his property and now another seems likely to fall victim to his wishes. How many more does he wish to eradicate from his property?
“Trees are our friends and not our enemies. We must love them – and not to take an axe to them.”
Robbie has previously been at loggerheads with his rock star neighbour Jimmy Page over the construction of a super-basement at his home in the capital.
He stopped work on the contentious project after Jimmy, 79, who owns the historically important Grade-I listed property next door, fought the project over fears vibrations from works will damage his Victorian castle.
However, the local authority agreed to ease some of the restrictions placed after a complaint from Robbie via his solicitor that branded them “intrusive”.
The former Take That star is building a basement with a gym and swimming pool under the garden of his £17.5 million Grade II-listed mansion.
Planning permission came with 18 conditions which included using no “percussive demolition and construction equipment other than hand tools which weighed no more than 9kg.”