The 13-foot statue, known as “The Don,” was constructed outside a Cambridge office building four years ago, with a plaque honoring the late Duke of Edinburgh’s tenure as chancellor at the university.
Despite being valued at £150,000, the statue named the “poorest-quality work ever presented” by the Cambridge city council, must be dismantled as it was installed without proper planning authorization.
Since its proposal a decade ago, local residents have criticized the artwork, describing it as “kitsch-like” and “garbage posing as public art,” said Cllr Katie Thornburrow.
“Nobody, except the affluent property developer who commissioned it, seems to endorse it,” she added.
The sculpture was commissioned in 2014 by Unex Group, a property development company, for the premises of Unex House, an office building on Hills Road in Cambridge.
Upon submission, the city council disapproved the application, claiming it was potentially the "poorest-quality work ever submitted.
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Pablo Atchugarry, a Uruguayan sculptor mentioned as the creator in the application, refuted his involvement and stated he had no prior knowledge of it.
“I have no connection to this sculpture, and it is misleading that my name was associated with it,” he clarified.
Despite this, Bill Gredley, the company's chairman, declared: “It’s an impressive work of art.
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The original design of the statue was described in the proposal as resembling a “Cambridge Don or student,” not Prince Philip.
However, following its installation, a plaque was added at its base commemorating the late Duke, reading: “HRH Prince Philip.
Duke of Edinburgh.
Chancellor.
University of Cambridge.
1977-2011.
”
The statue was illicitly erected in its initial location between April 2019 and September 2020 when it first appeared in Google Street View images.
Later on, it was relocated to Charter House at 62-68 Hills Road, another property under the ownership of Unex Group.
As a response, the council has served an enforcement notice demanding the company dismantle the statue by the 11th of April within four months.
The company is further instructed to eliminate the statue’s base and plinth and restore the area to its previous state before installation.
Cllr Thornburrow stated: “I will be relieved to see it gone but remain frustrated that the developers could simply abandon it and compel the council to expend resources and effort in its removal.
Our community deserves better.
”
Efforts to reach out to Mr.
Gredley and Mr.
Atchugarry for comment were made.