Warring stars urged to talk over a cuppa
It is Britain’s most high-profile row between neighbours, and there is no sign of a resolution.
Robbie Williams, who is trying to build an underground extension at his £17.5 million (NZ$34m) home in west London, has snubbed overtures from his neighbour Jimmy Page, the Led Zeppelin guitarist, to meet in person to settle their differences.
Page, 75, and his team have accused Williams of ‘‘continually rebuffing’’ all attempts to bury the hatchet after a bitter property dispute that has lasted five years.
The guitarist has tried to offer his friendship to the singer, who he claims has ignored all invitations to ‘‘come round for a cup of tea’’.
Williams, 45, wants to build a subterranean gym and pool at his 46-room mansion in Holland Park. Page, who has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, says vibrations from the building work could damage his grade I listed home, which contains delicate friezes and mosaics.
Kensington and Chelsea Council approved Williams’ plans on December 18, pending conditions about the systems that would monitor construction, what kind of tools would be used, and financial sanctions if there was any harm to Page’s house.
Quentin Marshall, a councillor, said the two musicians should meet face to face to resolve their grievances and discuss how building work would proceed.
‘‘It seems they are not that far apart. It’s slightly frustrating. I know the two principals are very busy, but surely they can find a way to talk.’’
The Times has been told that Page’s team has sent repeated messages to Williams to arrange a date. Williams’s representatives finally responded this week to say their client was ‘‘not in a position’’ to meet.
A spokesman for Page said: ‘‘We’re waiting for him to come round for a cup of tea. It’s disappointing. Jimmy is hoping to meet Robbie and extend the hand of friendship but he has been continually rebuffed. We are still bemused why he won’t come for a fireside chat.’’
A spokesman for the council said: ‘‘The meeting hasn’t yet occurred. We don’t have a date for any official callback of the parties.’’
Page has lived in the property, known as Tower House, for 40 years and has called it ‘‘one of the most historic buildings in the borough’’.
His team has expressed disappointment with Historic England, the government body responsible for protecting historic buildings, saying it should have intervened to protect the house.
Page’s spokesman said: ‘‘If Jimmy took a chisel to his own interior, he would face prison. If the building work causes vibrations and damages something, nothing would happen to Robbie.’’
Emily Gee, Historic England’s planning director for London, said its engineer had determined that the construction work would cause no harm to Tower House.
‘‘It is important that the significance of listed buildings is fully considered as part of the planning process, and it is for the council to carefully consider the application, based on policy and specialist advice.’’
In a submission to the council, Page said he would ‘‘fight’’ to defend the house, which was previously owned by poet John Betjeman and actor Richard Harris. ‘‘Having protected the Tower House for over 40 years, I am now continuing the fight against a new threat.’’
Williams’ design team said any vibrations caused by construction would be imperceptible. One of his consultants said it would be ‘‘no different to a lorry passing by’’.
The former Take That singer is preparing for a residency in Las Vegas, which begins this month and continues until July. It is not known if he has spent any time in Britain since December.
He is letting out his Holland Park house to a multimillionaire businessman for a sum said to be up to £40,000 (NZ$77,700) a week. His London residence is a ninebedroom rented house in St John’s Wood.
Representatives for Williams refused to comment. – The Times