Neighbour says unauthorised home spa built by Captain Tom Moore Foundation is an 'eyesore'

A neighbour of Captain Tom Moore’s family has said the unauthorised spa built by the foundation is an ‘eyesore’.

The Captain Tom Foundation charity was set up after the death of Moore in 2021, one year after he managed to raise £33 million for NHS Charities Together by completing 100 laps of his nursing home garden using his walking frame.

Due to an ongoing inquiry into its finances, the foundation is no longer taking donations.

Planning bosses have now ordered a building on Moore’s daughter’s property – built by the foundation – be demolished because the plans for such a building with a spa pool were rejected.

Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin had initially applied for permission in 2021 to build a 'Captain Tom Building' in the grounds of their home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, using the foundation’s name on the first plans.

PA

They had said that the site would be used ‘in connection with The Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives’.

However, revised plans were turned down.

Jilly Bozdogan, whose garden backs up against the home, said the new addition is an ‘eyesore’.

Bozdogan, who lives with her 99-year-old retired mother, claims that trees had to be taken down to accommodate the building, saying she and her mum are now overlooked.

She told the BBC: "When we saw it [the home spa], I was appalled.

"It obviously didn't adhere to the planning application they submitted and, to be honest, it's an eyesore."

Vanessa Fraser, who also lives nearby, added: "I think it's a shame for Capt Sir Tom Moore's legacy that it's brought the village into disrepute a little bit. He'd done such great work for charity.

"We can see it [the home spa building] from the road. But I don't think anyone would have objected if they'd gone through the correct channels."

Central Bedfordshire Council

Ingram-Moore's initial plans were accepted by Central Bedfordshire council, before they later refused a retrospective application from 2022 for another bigger building which contained the spa pool.

The later idea was 'a new building for use by the occupiers', according to supporting documents.

A spokesperson for the council 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."

The charity continues to be investigated by the Charity Commission due to concerns over the management of the organisation and independence from the late Army veteran’s family.

The Captain Tom Foundation released a previous statement that read: "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."

LADbible has contacted the Captain Tom Foundation for any further comment.