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Ricky Gervais |
Funnyman’s pool plan is in hot water
Neighbours fear flooding
PLANS by comedian Ricky Gervais to install an underground swimming pool in his Hampstead home have caused a splash with neighbours worried about the impact of underground excavations in the area.
Mr Gervais, famous for hit BBC comedies The Office and Extras, has submitted plans to the Town Hall for an underground swimming pool, golf simulator and gym in his £2.5 million home.
But Mr Gervais’ neighbour, Martin Humphery, who also chairs the Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC), says that too many underground excavations could lead to problems with flooding in the area.
At present, many Hampstead residents, unable to get the go-ahead to extend outside their homes, apply for – and receive – planning permission for underground extensions which are not perceived to affect the look of the area.
Mr Humphery sent a letter to planning chiefs in August urging them to restrict further excavations until full studies on the impact of the digging were carried out by experts.
He wrote: “We have now reached the stage when we see several deep excavations approved in the same street. We greatly fear that such concentration could have a very damaging effect.”
Yesterday, Mr Humphery said he remained concerned about the impact of the underground digging.
He said: “We feel there must be implications for the underground water supply. Everyone will tell you that you only have to dig in Hampstead and you will find the Fleet River or other underground streams.
“The worst case scenario is that you divert the water from under your house into someone else’s – and you get flooding.”
But Mr Humphery added: “Ricky Gervais has been a terrific neighbour. So far, we can’t speak too highly of him. They have done all the right things so far and spoken to us of their plans from the outset. You can’t ask for more than that.
“It’s the general consequences of digging into Hampstead that worry us. It may be that it’s all right. But there’s water flowing around and once you start interfering with that, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
A Town Hall spokeswoman said that planning chiefs had already responded to Mr Humphery’s concerns.
She added: “Permission can only be refused where a development is not in compliance with policies and guidelines and it can be demonstrated that clear harm would result from its implementation.
Mr Gervais, who is understood to be in America with his partner this week, was unavailable for comment. |
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