Digger tears down Captain Tom's family's spa, as deadline for demolition nears
5 February 2024, 13:47 | Updated: 5 February 2024, 14:26
A digger has been pictured tearing down the unauthorised spa built by Captain Sir Tom Moore's family, as demolition work on the £200,000 building continues.
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Workmen were seen on Monday cutting through wood and other materials from the roof, and knocking down some of the brick walls in the spa built by Captain Tom's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin.
The workers were previously pictured taking off scaffolding ahead of the arrival of the digger at the Ingram-Moores' house in Marston Moretaine.
It comes after the roof on one section of the C-shaped building was removed last week, leaving a wooden structure underneath. The pool was hoisted out on Friday.
A crane was also spotted on the property last week as demolition work progressed further.
The building has to be knocked down fully by Wednesday (February 7).
Local authority Central Bedfordshire Council said it would be "reviewing the onsite position" on February 8, the day after the deadline.
The Ingram-Moores gained permission to put up a 'Captain Tom Foundation Building' at their £1.2 million home in Marston Moretaine, a village in Bedfordshire.
Demolition of spa at the home of Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter continue
But what they actually built was a much larger structure than was shown in plans. The resulting building included a kitchen and spa pool.
In 2022, a retrospective planning application for a C-shaped building containing a spa pool was turned down by Central Bedfordshire Council. The building was ordered to be demolished.
Despite Ms Ingram-Moore campaigning against the order, she lost her appeal and planning inspectors told her to knock down the building, said to have cost £200,000.
Ms Ingram-Moore argued it was not for the family's benefit because it would also be used to hold cards and gifts from Captain Tom's fans.
James Paynter, a chartered surveyor, claimed on behalf of the family it would be used for old people to enjoy rehabilitation sessions.
Captain Tom raised nearly £40m for NHS charities during the coronavirus pandemic as he walked laps of his garden.
He went on to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth and died in 2021 aged 100.
His family set up the Captain Tom Foundation, but it is due to close after a Charity Commission probe is concluded.
Tom and Caller John discuss Captain Tom charity donations.
It launched a statutory inquiry into the charity last year over decisions that "may have generated a significant profit" for a company run by the couple.
It said Club Nook Ltd, a separate firm, had been given the opportunity to trademark variations of the name "Captain Tom" without objection from the charity.
