Rodney Bewes , the television comedy actor and star of The Likely Lads, had objected to Olivia Harrison's proposal to install a new barbed wire fence around her £20 million pounds mansion, citing a series of injuries to his pet cat Maurice.
Bewes and other neighbours of Friar Park, the sprawling mansion where George Harrison was once stabbed by an intruder, had tried to persuade their local council to refuse permission for the new razor sharp fence.
Letters to the local authority likened the perimeter fence to a German prisoner of war camp.
However, now district council planners have given Mrs Harrison permission to top the fence with the sharp razor wire.
Despite losing the fight, civic leaders in Henley-on-Thames said they were hopeful they might still be able to get the imposing security scaled down by appealing directly to Mrs Harrison.
Mr Bewes complained that the razor wire opposite his home had nearly killed his six-year-old pet cat Maurice and forced him to fork out thousands of pounds in vet's bills.
In a letter to the local council, the 70 year old actor asked: "Is the razor wire necessary?
"Our cat has been caught three times, once severing an artery and we know of three other cats who have been injured."
He added: "My biggest saddness (sic) though is coming home and seeing razor wire and all it stands for in the world."
Mrs Harrison's home, Friar Park, nestles on a hill at the edge of upmarket Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. Hidden behind the imposing fence are 38 acres of lavish landscaped gardens and a picturesque lake.
Mr Bewes' wife Daphne said there was little they could do about the council's decision and would not be mounting an appeal.
"You can't argue with the council," she said.
"Lots of people have nice houses around here and none of us wants to be burgled but we don't all go and put razor wire up.
"The new wire is going to be latticed which will probably take Maurice's eye out. You can't tell a cat not to be stupid and climb over it."
Talking about the fence she added: "I just think it's wrong. It looks like a war zone.
"We are neighbours and it is nothing personal but it is just the principle - there are a lot of lovely houses around here that don't have it."
In their objection to the plans, neighbours John and Anna Rayner commented that it was "just downright unneighbourly to impose Stalag Luft 17 on the residents around Friar Park."
Town councillors in Henley voted unanimously to oppose the planned new fence and wire.
In 1999 George Harrison and his wife came close to death when a schizophrenic man, Michael Abram, broke into the gothic mansion and stabbed the musician.
Olivia Harrison smashed the 33 year old Liverpudlian attacker around the head with a poker and a table lamp and Abram was detained and treated before later being released against her wishes.
It had been pointed out that fencing and razor wire was around the house prior to the attack and did not prevent it.
Bewes and other neighbours of Friar Park, the sprawling mansion where George Harrison was once stabbed by an intruder, had tried to persuade their local council to refuse permission for the new razor sharp fence.
Letters to the local authority likened the perimeter fence to a German prisoner of war camp.
However, now district council planners have given Mrs Harrison permission to top the fence with the sharp razor wire.
Despite losing the fight, civic leaders in Henley-on-Thames said they were hopeful they might still be able to get the imposing security scaled down by appealing directly to Mrs Harrison.
Mr Bewes complained that the razor wire opposite his home had nearly killed his six-year-old pet cat Maurice and forced him to fork out thousands of pounds in vet's bills.
In a letter to the local council, the 70 year old actor asked: "Is the razor wire necessary?
"Our cat has been caught three times, once severing an artery and we know of three other cats who have been injured."
He added: "My biggest saddness (sic) though is coming home and seeing razor wire and all it stands for in the world."
Mrs Harrison's home, Friar Park, nestles on a hill at the edge of upmarket Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. Hidden behind the imposing fence are 38 acres of lavish landscaped gardens and a picturesque lake.
Mr Bewes' wife Daphne said there was little they could do about the council's decision and would not be mounting an appeal.
"You can't argue with the council," she said.
"Lots of people have nice houses around here and none of us wants to be burgled but we don't all go and put razor wire up.
"The new wire is going to be latticed which will probably take Maurice's eye out. You can't tell a cat not to be stupid and climb over it."
Talking about the fence she added: "I just think it's wrong. It looks like a war zone.
"We are neighbours and it is nothing personal but it is just the principle - there are a lot of lovely houses around here that don't have it."
In their objection to the plans, neighbours John and Anna Rayner commented that it was "just downright unneighbourly to impose Stalag Luft 17 on the residents around Friar Park."
Town councillors in Henley voted unanimously to oppose the planned new fence and wire.
In 1999 George Harrison and his wife came close to death when a schizophrenic man, Michael Abram, broke into the gothic mansion and stabbed the musician.
Olivia Harrison smashed the 33 year old Liverpudlian attacker around the head with a poker and a table lamp and Abram was detained and treated before later being released against her wishes.
It had been pointed out that fencing and razor wire was around the house prior to the attack and did not prevent it.
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