My wife looks pretty with her clothes on... less so without
Husband in the doghouse for telling planners why they shouldn’t fell tree blocking view of bedroom
IF there were a contest for Britain’s Most Unchivalrous husband, it’s fair to say robert Davies would be among the favourites.
For Mr Davies, keen for planners to block the felling of a tree outside his home which protects his wife’s modesty, decided to speak out – publicly.
‘She looks pretty with her clothes on, less so without,’ the wealthy businessman told a council planning meeting.
his ‘attempt at a bit of humour’ came as he pointed out that the 60-year-old willow stops passers-by from seeing into the bedroom of his £4million property in henleyon-thames on the banks of the river.
Mr Davies said the removal of the tree to make way for a floating pontoon would allow people walking along a footbridge a clear view into the couple’s bedroom, bathroom and dressing room.
But he has admitted he is now in the doghouse with his wife Priscila Filleti, 57.
Mr Davies, 59, said: ‘My wife is angry and p***ed off at the remark. It was said in anger and an attempt at a bit of humour, but it was a very poor use of humour and disrespectful to women.’
he added: ‘She is not happy and I understand that. this issue is about privacy but also about losing a good tree.’
Brazillian Miss Filleti, a women’s leadership coach and company director, has declined to comment.
Neighbour Will Phillips wants to reinstate the receding riverbank and build a floating pontoon so he can launch small boats, kayaks and canoes to and from the river r for recreational purposes.
Mr Davies, of Mill Lane, where homes s cost more than £3million each, told a meeting of henley town Council’s planning committee that he wasn’t against the idea of improving the riverbank but said d the tree protected his privacy.
he said: ‘this tree is an integral part of the view, an integral part of nature. take e that tree out and I think you destroy the area. You don’t need to if you have got all l this space.
‘take the tree away and as people come e on to the bridge they can see into our dressing sn, room, bedroom and bathroom.
‘My wife looks pretty with her clothes on, less so without. the tree hides it, even in winter as it has so many cross branches. es. You can also see, if you take the tree out, ut, the whole of our front garden.
‘I think we can come up with a plan that t leaves the tree, maintains the bucolic nature the view from the bridge and allows the other four neighbours to do what they want to do, which is to get in and out of the water more easily.’
he added: ‘If the tree is removed people on the bridge would see the pontoon and think that is a place to swim, a place to get in the water and the traffic will come.’
Mr Phillips – whose house is not on the riverbank but has access to it through a deed – said replacement trees would be planted but neighbour ronald Droy, whose home is on the river, has also objected, as has the henley Society.
Mr Droy said: ‘this proposal is visually intrusive both up and down the river and damages the natural beauty of the riverbank. the trees are important in the riverscape and provide for wildlife. the willow is a typical healthy specimen and must stay.’ he added: ‘this is a preposterous idea and clearly meant to increase the value of non-riverside estates.’
But another neighbour, who is backing the plans, said: ‘I know people will look at this and say it is just silly neighbours arguing over something trivial, but we have lived here a long time and we do have access to the river which we want to use.’ the committee agreed to recommended that permission is refused. Councillor Laurence Plant said: ‘Just repairing the slipways is simple to do, the tree doesn’t need to be removed.’
South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, is due to make a final decision by July 7.
‘Poor use of humour and disrespectful’