Captain Tom's daughter ordered to demolish spa and pool built using dad's name
Planning chiefs have ordered an unauthorised building in Captain Tom's daughter's home be demolished.
Plans for a block containing a spa pool at the seven-bedroom property have been rejected.
Hannah Ingram-Moore, 52, and her husband Colin applied in 2021 for permission to build a Captain Tom Foundation Building in the grounds of their home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.
Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore declined to speak to reporters at their seven-bedroom home this week ahead of the council's decision, despite criticism on social media.
The L-shaped building was given the green light, and in a design and access and heritage statement it was described as to be used partly "in connection with The Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives".
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Tom Moore’s daughter applied for permission to build a Captain Tom Foundation Building in the grounds of her home (Google Maps)'He walked so she could swim'
But a subsequent retrospective application in 2022, for a larger C-shaped building containing a spa pool, was refused by the planning authority. It'll now have to be knocked down.
A resident said: "It was still a bit of a shell last summer. It was an L-shape or a C-shape. It was still under construction, although the main body was done. No one [outside the grounds of the property] could see it really, apart from the roof, because it's quite low."
A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council, which Tories lost to no overall control this year, said: "An enforcement notice requiring the demolition of the now-unauthorised building was issued and this is now subject to an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate."
Planning documents were sent to the council
Documents outline plans for the workEfforts have been made to approach Mrs Ingram-Moore for comment on the development.
She faced criticism on social media initially for her plans.
"He walked so she could swim," wrote one Twitter user.
"He did laps of his garden, so she could do laps of her pool," another shared on the social media site.
A 50ft by 20ft pool house with changing rooms, toilets and showers was built at the home (ITV)Captain Tom Foundation no longer seeking funding from donors
In response, a spokesperson for the charity said: "At this moment in time, the sole focus of The Captain Tom Foundation is to ensure that it cooperates fully with the ongoing Statutory Inquiry by the Charity Commission.
"As a result, The Captain Tom Foundation is not presently actively seeking any funding from donors.
"Accordingly, we have also taken the decision to close all payment channels whilst the Statutory Inquiry remains open.
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"Once the findings of the Statutory Inquiry have been communicated, The Captain Tom Foundation will be in a better position to make a decision in relation to its future, but for now, our main priority is to assist the Charity Commission with its enquiry.
"In the meantime, on behalf of the trustees of The Captain Tom Foundation, we wish to extend a warm thank you to all our supporters who have enabled us to help charities that were close to Captain Sir Tom’s heart."
Hannah, pictured last year, and the charity issued a statement (Phil Harris)Sir Captain Tom Moore's legacy
In supporting documents, it was described as "a new building for use by the occupiers" of the home of Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore.
In a design and access and heritage statement, it was referred to as The Captain Tom Building.
The Captain Tom Foundation was registered on June 5, 2020 following his fundraising efforts.
Sir Tom raised £38.9 million for the NHS, including Gift Aid, by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday at the height of the first national Covid-19 lockdown in April 2020.
He died in February 2021 at Bedford Hospital, having raised huge money for health services.
The former British Army officer was personally knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle (PA)A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council, the planning authority for the area, said on Tuesday that it received a planning application in August 2021 for the erection of a detached single-storey building by the occupiers of the home of the Ingram-Moores and the Captain Tom Foundation.
It said this was approved.
In 2022, planners subsequently received a retrospective planning application for a "part retrospective erection of detached single-storey building (revised proposals)", which was refused, the spokesperson said.
The Captain Tom Foundation said previously in a statement: "At no time were The Captain Tom Foundation's independent trustees aware of planning permissions made by Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore purporting to be in the foundation's name.
"Had they been aware of any applications, the independent trustees would not have authorised them."
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