Workmen today (January 31) began the demolition of a controversial £200k spa building belonging to Captain Tom Moore's daughter. <br /><br />The builders in orange high-vis arrived at around quarter to eight on Wednesday, tearing down tiles to expose the luxury complex's blue waterproof membrane. <br /><br />Metal poles have been assembled by three workers around the C-shaped building which was set to house a spa pool, toilets and kitchen.<br /><br />A van belonging to demolition contractors C. Jackson and Sons of Bedford was also parked outside the family home in Marston Moretaine, Beds.<br /><br />The family were ordered to knock down their spa complex because the building did not have planning permission from Central Bedfordshire Council.<br /><br />While permission had been granted in for an L-shaped building, revised plans for the partially constructed property were submitted by Hannah Ingram-Moore in February 2022.<br /><br />The amended plans for the "Captain Tom Building" included a new C-shape, spa pool, toilets and a kitchen for "private use".<br /><br />Retrospective planning permission was refused the same year and despite appeals from Mrs Ingram-Moore, it was ruled 'at odds' with her Grade II listed home. <br /><br />Captain Tom's daughter and her husband failed to seek a judicial review of the decision and the building was ordered to be removed by February 7.<br /><br />Sir Thomas Moore, popularly known as Captain Tom, was a British Army officer and fundraiser who hit the headlines during the first Covid-19 lockdown.<br /><br />He raised an staggering £39m for the NHS in the run-up to his 100th birthday by walking laps of his garden in April 2020.<br /><br />He died from coronavirus aged 100 in February 2021.
