Sun: Chelsea goalkeeper Betinelli cuts 40-foot tree near his home, causing neighbourhood disputes

May 18th According to the Sun, Chelsea third goalkeeper Betinelli had a dispute with his neighbor over cutting down trees.

It is reported that 32-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper Bettinelli cut down a 40-foot tree near his mansion, causing a dispute with his neighbor. He has obtained permission to expand the luxury home, which is close to the club's Cobham training ground and plans to add a cinema and game room. Local planning departments allowed him to cut down two trees for development, but neighbors said he cut down more trees without permission. These cut down trees have been decades old and, although not protected by a conservation order, help prevent peeping in a tree-shaded estate.

It is understood that Betinelli initially obtained a front and rear expansion license including a first-floor family room, kitchen, breakfast room and cinema. He also hopes to remove a porch and chimney and add a skylight to the second floor to add a bedroom and game room. Construction started last year but has not been completed, according to his documents submitted to the Elmbridge District Council. Betinelli has now submitted a revised tree planting and landscaping plan to allow the removal of trees.

A resident wrote in an opposition letter: "The original 'shu and hedge pruning' proposal turned into cutting down multiple decades of old trees, which seriously affected the privacy and shade of local wildlife (records of owls nesting) and multiple surrounding properties."

Another neighbor wrote: "For the purpose of building fences, more hedges were removed, which was not done by neighboring properties. The commitment to hedges is now reduced compared to previous plans. As a reminder, 30-40 feet of trees were cut without permission, and the planned commitment should not be reduced."

Betinelli joined Chelsea in 2021 to strengthen the Blues' goalkeeper roster, after playing for Fulham for ten years, 120 appearances and has played for England's U21 national team. The 6-foot-4 goalkeeper bought Cobham's residence for £1.5 million in September 2023 and applied for a massive renovation. In a letter of objection from the local residents’ association, they expressed “ache and deep concern that the developer, architect and builder violated the conditions for the approved application”.