Loathed 13ft statue of ‘Prince Philip’ disowned by its artist and branded ‘poorest quality work’ must be pulled down

A LOATHED statue said to represent ex-Cambridge University vice-chancellor Prince Philip must be pulled down.

The 13ft The Don — disowned by its artist and labelled “the poorest quality work” by the council — was erected in Cambridge in 2014 without consent.

Officials say it must go by mid-August.

An enforcement notice issued by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service on March 5 said it appeared the sculpture had been erected within the last four years without planning permission.

The £150,000 sculpture was attributed to artist Pablo Atchugarry who later disowned the piece.

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.

Cllr Katie Thornburrow said that nobody seemed to have a good word to say about it.

She added that she will "be glad to see it gone".