A contentious £150,000 sculpture depicting Prince Philip is set to be dismantled after the city council labeled it as potentially the lowest-quality artwork ever submitted.

The 13-foot bronze statue, named 'The Don,' purportedly portrays Prince Philip during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University. However, Cambridge City Council has issued an enforcement notice mandating its removal due to its lack of planning permission and its negative visual impact on the surrounding area.

Initially proposed for display outside a new office complex on Hills Road in 2014, city planners rejected the statue, deeming it the most inferior public art piece they had ever encountered.

According to Cambridge City Council's public art officer, Nadine Black, the sculpture lacks site specificity, exceeds appropriate scale for its location, and fails to complement the adjacent development, making it an unsuitable addition to the area.

Originally attributed to Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Atchugarry, the artist later disavowed the piece, labeling the use of his name an "abuse." Despite the controversy, Bill Gredley, chairman of Unex Group, which commissioned the sculpture, defended it as a "spectacular piece of art" in 2014.

However, an enforcement notice issued by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service has mandated the removal of the statue within four months from April 11, citing its detrimental impact on the area's aesthetics and non-compliance with local planning policies.

Local councilor Katie Thornburrow expressed her satisfaction with the decision, noting the widespread disapproval of the sculpture among residents.

While Mr. Atchugarry has reiterated that he is not the creator of the artwork, no official statement has been issued by Mr. Gredley regarding the removal. Photo by UNEХ.