CAPTAIN Tom’s daughter will today appeal the order that could see her forced to rip down her family’s unauthorised spa complex.
The hearing comes after Hannah Ingram-Moore and husband Colin controversially got permission to build a small charity office for the Captain Tom Foundation.
TalkTVHannah Ingram-Moore last week spoke of her regret over building the complex[/caption]
Talk TV.The family is now fighting to keep the spa and pool complex that was built in the charity’s name[/caption]
The couple are today appealing against a decision to tear it down
GettyCaptain Tom captured the nation’s hearts during the pandemic[/caption]
But they instead created a poolhouse with changing rooms, toilets and showers to sit alongside their £1.2million home.
The couple also used the charity’s name in the design and heritage statement, before applying for retrospective planning permission.
They were then ordered to tear down the spa and pool complex, which also contained an aerial, after their planning application was rejected.
Hannah and husband Colin recently spoke of their “regret”, as the complex was revealed for the first time last week.
However, they have appealed the order and it is set to be heard in the Central Bedfordshire Council chambers today.
The council revealed in July that the family had been slapped with an enforcement notice, requiring the demolition of the “now-unauthorised building”.
While it could take just a day to hear the appeal, a decision won’t be published for at least a month.
Speaking to TalkTV‘s Piers Morgan Uncensored at her Bedfordshire home last week, Hannah said: “We have to accept that we made a decision, and it was probably the wrong one.”
They are still holding out for the verdict in the faint hope they can still enjoy 50ft by 20ft facility – which they insist they paid for themselves.
During the bombshell interview, which aired on Thursday night, the family also confessed to pocketing money from the £39million NHS fund-raising veteran.
A tearful Hannah revealed they kept £800,000 from the three books her dad had written, adding that he had wanted them to keep the profits.
Husband Colin said: “This was one of the most difficult interviews of my career… the bottom line is they should never have accepted or kept a penny from anything to do with Captain Tom and public money.
“It wasn’t just a clear conflict of interest, and deeply unethical, it was a betrayal of his legacy.”
The family also admitted no one now wants to touch them or their associated companies.
In appeal documents, the family said the spa complex was “no more overbearing” than the approved building.
It wasn’t just a clear conflict of interest, and deeply unethical, it was a betrayal of his legacy.
Husband Colin
Colin wrote: “The view is virtually identical save for a pitch roof being added to the elevational treatment.
“The heights are the same.
“As such there cannot be an unacceptable overbearing impact.”
It also said the council had “no grounds supporting the refusal of the retrospective application” and “requested” for the inspector to uphold the appeal.
The council said its reports “detail harm caused to the setting of the listed building and, in particular, the significant difference between the two schemes that arises from the lack of sufficient public benefit that has been proposed in respect of the unauthorised building”.
Sir Tom became a national hero by walking 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden shortly before his 100th birthday.
He was later knighted by Queen Elizabeth for inspiring the nation.
But Sir Tom sadly later caught Covid and his death was announced on February 2, 2021 — sparking nationwide grief.
Nearly all the £39million her dad helped raise was paid directly to NHS Charities Together.
The Captain Tom Foundation was set up as a separate charity to receive further donations.
TalkTVHannah spoke to TalkTV’s Piers Morgan at her Bedfordshire home[/caption]
Talk TV.They had told planners the spa complex would be an office for her late father’s charity[/caption]
ReutersQueen Elizabeth awarded Captain Tom Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle in July 2020[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
