Neighbours see red over Arsenal chairman's home fixtures

NEIGHBOURS of Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood claim he is ruining their lives while he revamps his 16th century Kent home. They accuse the old Etonian of ignoring their feelings during seven months of disturbance. The couple next door complain workmen have caused so much noise that it sounds like they are coming through their walls.

Mr Hill-Wood initially warned next door neighbours Malcolm and Beverley Riddle that the work would take about a fortnight when he bought the 500,000, listed River House in the picturesque coastal village of Sandwich last July.

But now the neighbours say renovations have run long overdue. Mrs Riddle, 41, a former purser on Concorde, said: "He apologised for any inconvenience the builders might cause doing the work, which he said would take a couple of weeks. We were fine about it. But now it looks like the work could continue well into the summer so we'll have to put up with this disturbance for a whole year. It's absolute hell.

"He only pops down at the weekends when the builders are off, so he doesn't even appreciate what we're going through."

Mr Riddle, 51, a former company director, said: "We have this constant noise for nine hours a day, five days a week. We cannot stand it any longer. He could have demolished and rebuilt the house in the ridiculous amount of time this project is taking." The couple are furious with the workmen for clogging up their narrow street with vans and a skip, which they claim prevents them putting out their rubbish.

Mrs Riddle said: "The builders are banging on those walls so much, I'm frightened that they are going to shake the foundations of our house, which is 400 years old.

We have had enough but it's not as if we can sell up and get away from it.

The workmen are causing so much disruption, no one would want to buy our house now."

Arsenal spokeswoman Amanda Docherty said: "Mr Hill-Wood is complying with all the building guidelines and regulations to restore the house. He is aware that it hasn't been particularly easy for the neighbours and he has spoken to them. Mr Hill-Wood does not want to upset his neighbours, but the work has to be carried out.

Everything is being done to get it completed as quickly as possible."

Arsenal say a survey of residents near their proposed new ground at Ashburton Grove, Islington, found 75 per cent in favour. Director Ken Friar said: "Residents right across Islington have made it clear to us they support the club's proposals."

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