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Maria holding her breath over pool
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| Underwater photographer Maria Munn is waiting for works to finish so she can build a pool in her garage BR11250 |
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STREET work is preventing an underwater photographer from building a swimming pool in her home.
Maria Munn, 37, wants to build the pool in her garage to help her practise photography techniques on a plastic reef.
But Thames Water's work outside her home in Avondale Road, Bromley, is being delayed by four weeks.
This leaves her racing against time to raise money through her photography to pay off an inheritance tax bill.
Miss Munn said: "The more I can practise my technique, the more courses I can run, and I need the pool to finish writing a book.
"Not using the pool to keep myself ahead of the competition has an impact on my job, and if I can't do it, it could mean me losing my home."
After Miss Munn's father died in 2003, a-year-and-a-half after her mother's death, she received a £140,000 inheritance tax bill.
She set up her business, Ocean Visions, to help raise the money for her to keep her family home, where she has lived intermittently since she was 11.
Her company teaches underwater photography techniques using compact cameras.
She runs courses in Essex and Oxford.
The pool will allow her to develop new photography techniques to teach to her classes.
A four-week delay by Thames Water means work on Miss Munn's pool cannot start until July.
Miss Munn claims when she approached the workers to say she needed to get her work done, she was told she shouldn't live in such a large house.
She added: "I was just looking for a way to compromise. I wasn't expecting to be told the house was too big to live in and I should sell it.
"I just love my family home to bits, and I love my neighbours."
A Thames Water spokesman said: "Engineers are currently carrying out essential flood alleviation works in Avondale Road.
"Due to the ground condition of the road, work has been delayed.
"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience or stress this may have caused."
9:27am Friday 16th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Rich, Lewisham on 10:00am Fri 16 May 08
Boo hoo hoo. Im with Thames Water on this one. If the work is not carried out then the locals will be moaning of leaks etc, the work has to be carried out so she will have to wait for her pool
Boo hoo hoo. Im with Thames Water on this one. If the work is not carried out then the locals will be moaning of leaks etc, the work has to be carried out so she will have to wait for her pool
Posted by: Joe, Penge on 10:37am Fri 16 May 08
Ahh - my heart bleeds! Not! Ohh everybody must run around me so I can get my pool! Rubbish!
Ahh - my heart bleeds! Not! Ohh everybody must run around me so I can get my pool! Rubbish!
Posted by: Yawn, Sleepytown on 12:06pm Fri 16 May 08
Blimey - it must be a slow news day today.
Blimey - it must be a slow news day today.
Posted by: S, Orpington on 9:58pm Sat 17 May 08
Good grief. Haven't we all got bills to pay and worries of our own? Whilst I sympathise with her predicament - she is just one of many of us with problems. Not what I'd expected to see reported as 'news'.
Good grief. Haven't we all got bills to pay and worries of our own? Whilst I sympathise with her predicament - she is just one of many of us with problems. Not what I'd expected to see reported as 'news'.
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