14 DAY TRIAL // She might not strike anyone as too shy a girl, but Cheryl Cole of the Girls Aloud and, most recently, of solo fame, is very private about her personal life. In fact, she is so private, she even wanted an underground pool built at her and husband Ashley Cole’s Surrey mansion, so that no prying eyes could catch them in their “intimate moments,” as she put it in the documents for approval, the BBC informs.
Unfortunately for Cheryl and Ashley, the request has just recently been turned down by the Guildford Borough Council on the grounds that the proposed modifications would be disproportionate in relation to the rest of the house, while also damaging to the Green Belt. The two stars have already appealed the initial decision, saying they should be the exception to the rule. It, too, was duly dismissed.
“The proposed swimming pool level would result in a disproportionate addition to the house, and would be unacceptable.” planning officer Tara Taylor tells the British media as regards the changes proposed. This would have included, according to reports, a 12x5-meter pool below ground level, a spa and gym, a sauna, a pool bar, a lavatory and a plant room. The entire extension would have had a floor area of 275 square meters, a size deemed just in accordance with the rest of the estate by the two stars.
Clearly, authorities did not feel the same, which is why they turned down the request. This, however, puts both Ashley and Cheryl in quite a predicament, as the level of exposure they get in the media does not allow them to lead a normal life and, as such, go to regular gyms and sauna rooms. Therefore, a grave injustice has been done to them by having turned down their request, one of their reps claims.
“Speaking on their behalf, their planning consultant, Jonathan Phillips, said they could not go to public gyms and swimming pools. He also told the Planning Inspectorate it was unreasonable to suggest they could use external health and fitness facilities because they had been ‘subject to disturbance and aggravation from paparazzi and members of the public.’ It was claimed the couple needed to stay fit and healthy because of their jobs.” the BBC writes of the appeal.
The Guildford Borough Council stands its ground: the extension will not happen, no matter what the two or their representatives say.