*NO UK* Controversial Prince Philip Statue To Be Removed In Cambridge - 27 Mar 2024

**NO UK**

A controversial 13-FOOT-HIGH sculpture in Cambridge depicting PRINCE PHILIP is to be removed after being described by the city council as "possibly the poorest quality work" ever submitted.

The £150,000 bronze sculpture of The Don represents the Prince Philip in his role as Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University. A plaque under the sculpture states: "HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Chancellor University of Cambridge 1977-2011."

But Cambridge City Council have now issued an enforcement notice for the statue to taken down because it does not have planning permission and has a "harmful material impact" on the appearance of the area.

City planners refused permission for the statue to be displayed outside a new office block on Hills Road in 2014 – describing it as the worst piece of public art they had ever seen.
Cambridge City Council public art officer Nadine Black said at the time it was "possibly the poorest quality work that has ever been submitted to the council."
She added: "It is not site-specific and is a work already purchased and has no relationship to this site. It is too large a scale for the context of the space it will be located within and will compromise the quality of the new development."
The statue was originally attributed to Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Atchugarry, but he later disowned the piece.
Atchugarry, who is an internationally renowned sculptor, whose pieces have been sold at Christies and Sothebys in London, New York, Paris and Amsterdam, called the accusation it was his work "an abuse."
He said in 2014, "I am not the author of this sculpture, and it is an abuse that they had used my name. I wish somebody would apologise to me for this misunderstanding."
But Bill Gredley, the chairmen of Unex Group who developed the piece, staunchly defended the work in 2014 and described it as a "spectacular piece of art."
A spokesman for Unex group added in 2014: "Mr Gredley and others consider it is a rather spectacular bronze with a difference, namely the head and shape as cast together with the bronze being coloured black to resemble the academic clothing and mortarboard.
"Mr Gredley appreciates that art is subjective and therefore has no issue with those who do not like The Don."
An enforcement notice issued by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service (GCSP) on March 5 said it appeared the sculpture had been erected within the last four years without planning permission.
The enforcement notice said it has a "harmful material impact" on the appearance of the area and that it was contrary to policies in the Cambridge Local Plan.

It said the sculpture must be permanently removed along with its foundations and plinth within four months from April 11, unless an appeal is made beforehand.

The land must also be restored to its former condition prior to the sculpture's installation.

Councillor Katie Thornburrow said in a blog post that nobody "seems to have a good word to say about it" and added that she will "be glad to see it gone."

Local residents took to Facebook to state their relief that the statue would be removed.

Suki Sharples wrote: "Good! It's hideous. So are several others on Hills Road."

Pictured: Prince Philip when he was Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University
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