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Harry Montagu and the wisteria in Belsize Park |
Violinist Kennedy entangled in dispute over 12ft climber
Experts called in as wisteria is blamed for subsidence at neighbour’s home
HE is famed for his unkempt shock of hair and virtuoso violin playing, but to neighbours of Nigel Kennedy his talents take second place to concern about a wisteria growing at his Belsize Park home.
The 12-foot climber outside the musician’s home is blamed for subsidence problems one door down, according to insurance experts. Harry and Carol Montagu, owners of the adjacent house, first noticed cracks in a wall and porch two years ago.
Their insurance company, Royal and Sun Alliance, confirmed the subsidence was caused by the wisteria and a large plane tree and wrote to Mr Kennedy asking for the wisteria to be removed.
So far, Mr Kennedy, who courts a reputation as a “punk violinist” and the bad boy of the classical music circuit, has refused.
Mr Montagu, a keen gardener who has won Hampstead Horticultural Society prizes, said: “The wisteria is beautiful but it sucks all the moisture out of the ground. The roots go far and wide in search of moisture.
“I suppose the porch will gradually move more and you’ll get water coming in. My wife’s going mad. I want a decision made this year.”
He added: “All I want to do is get the problem rectified, get the house redecorated and live a normal life.”
Mr Montagu said he was on excellent terms with Mr Kennedy and his wife, though the violinist rarely stayed at the house, preferring his wife’s home in Poland.
He stressed that it was an insurance matter, not “neighbours at war”.
“He’s a very fine player and very pleasant chap,” he added.
It is feared that, if left unchecked, the rampant climber could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to the couple’s three-bedroom home, where they have lived for 11 years.
Mr Kennedy was performing in Barcelona this week and unavailable for comment but his manager, Terri Robson, said the wisteria was “very small” by London standards.
She added: “This is something that’s been whipped up by the media. It’s an issue that’s being handled by two insurance companies. There are various experts looking at the problem.
“Nigel and Harry are very good neighbours and they’re sorting things out.” |
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