Council spent £44k removing 'Cambridge Don'
The 'controversial' statue was put up without permission on land outside Charter House - and was supposed to represent Price Philip
Last updated 25th Oct 2024
Over £44,000 of public money was spent forcing the removal of ‘The Cambridge Don’ statue, which was put up without planning permission.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service has revealed the amount it cost Cambridge City Council to fight to uphold its enforcement notice to get the controversial statue removed.
The four-metre tall, three-tonne, cast bronze sculpture is said to represent Prince Philip in his role as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and is reported to have cost £150,000.
The city council issued an enforcement notice earlier this year stating the statue had been erected on land outside Charter House in Hills Road, Cambridge, without planning permission.
The authority said the statue needed to be removed from the site as it did not have permission to be there, and argued it was “overbearing” and had a “harmful impact” on the area.
However, Unex Ltd appealed against the enforcement notice, arguing the statue was never fixed to the ground and was just an object placed along Hills Road, and therefore did not need planning permission.
Due to the appeal an inquiry was held where a planning inspector heard arguments from both sides.
The inspector ultimately concluded that putting up the statue on a concrete foundation was development and therefore required planning permission.
The statue has since been removed following the outcome of the appeal.
Responding to a Freedom of Information request the city council revealed it cost the authority over £44,000 to defend the enforcement appeal process.
The city council said it spent £41,984.14 (inclusive of VAT) on the professional barrister who helped to defend the authority at the inquiry and during the appeal.
It also said £2,231.40 (inclusive of VAT) was spent on a consultancy fee from Arup concerning advice on the structural integrity of the concrete, the safety of the sculpture and a review of the appellant’s structural report.
Council officers’ time was also used as they provided their expertise as witnesses at the inquiry.
The city council has said it is ‘frustrated’ by the time and money it had to spend defending the appeal.
The authority said: “The statue was erected without planning permission and was in breach of planning control like anything erected without the correct permission.
“Given its size and location in the New Town and Glisson Road conservation area it would have been unlikely to receive planning approval even if it had been sought because it would have contravened national and local planning policies.
“As we have said throughout this process, it’s frustrating that the council has had to spend time and money to achieve this outcome, but the inspector’s decision makes it very clear that planning policies are in place for a reason and should be respected.”