06 July 2023 , 21:17
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Captain Tom Moore's daughter is claiming to be appealing against the demolition order on her spa and pool - so she doesn't have to rebuild her tennis court.
It is understood Hannah Ingram-Moore, 52, and husband Colin say they should not have to tear it down as returning the site to its original state will involve building the court again.
The couple, who shared a pic from their holiday in Spain, complained after being told to get rid of the building, which has no planning permission. But a neighbour in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, today told The Sun: "What a privileged moan - saying ‘I don’t want a tennis court, I want a spa’."
Captain Tom Moore with his daughter Hannah (PA)Hannah and Colin say the spa is in keeping with the local area. They didn't, though, talk to reporters at their seven-bedroom home this week ahead of the council's decision, despite criticism on social media.
"He walked so she could swim," wrote one Twitter user.
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"He did laps of his garden, so she could do laps of her pool," another shared on the social media site.
The building had first been pitched as an office for lockdown NHS fundraising hero Sir Tom’s foundation at their £1.2million home. The foundation’s name was used in the design and other planning documents.
Hannah posted online a smiling snap with her family abroad (Instagram)
Captain Tom was a World War Two veteran who raised more than £30million for the NHS (The Royal British Legion)However, a 50ft by 20ft pool house with changing rooms, toilets and showers was eventually constructed. Now the foundation is not taking donations while the Charity Commission investigates.
In response to criticism Hannah and Colin have faced, 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.
New aerial photos show the size of the building in Bedfordshire (PA)"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."
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.
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He died in February 2021 at NHS' Bedford Hospital, having raised huge money for health services.