THE six-metre high oak-framed chair sculpture at Higher Natsworthy, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, has got to go.
On Friday, members at the Dartmoor National Park Authority's development control committee meeting decided on a 15-3 vote that while the quality and inspiration of the artwork was not in question, it was attracting so many visitors that it was causing highways problems and damage to walls.
The artist, Mr H Brudenell-Bruce, who created the work and was making a retrospective application for retention of the chair, said it was created to bring joy and laughter to anyone who happens upon it.
'This is a beautiful place and this looks to celebrate it. The ideas of theme parks and commercial gain are the opposite to what this represents.
'I hope this sculpture is able to inspire young and old alike. On Monday morning I received an email from a resident of the valley saying it was spectacular and that both the object and site were made for each other,' he said.
Senior monitoring enforcement officer James Aven said the matter was deferred at the previous meeting to consider further the accessibility issues because of the number of visitors and the impact on residents because of parking and traffic problems.
He said there were 14 letters of objection including from the Dartmoor Society and seven in support.
He added that the applicant had said if traffic did increase he would remove it because he did not want that situation.
Stuart Barker said it was a planning issue and he asked what the decision would be if they were looking at any other structure of this size in this location.
'We do not have any policies of how we can position works of art within the park. I do not think we can grant permission.
'I think it is a good high quality piece but we cannot have it in the open moor,' said Mr Barker.
Several members felt it should be relocated, Ian Mortimer saying it should be looked at as a moveable work of art, though chairman Nigel Hoskin said it would be wrong to give the impression about future sites.
'The authority gave a brave decision for temporary permission in 2007. I would not fancy an Angel of the South on the moor,' he said.
Proposing approval, Mike Date said he drove past the area three times a week and had never encountered any problems.
Planning director Chris France said members felt it was a high quality and thought-provoking structure.
It was recommended for approval at the previous meeting but now had changed to one of refusal on highway grounds.
'The route is not considered to be appropriate for the large number of vehicles.
'The artist considered the chair as an object people came across in the landscape, but it has now become an attraction in its own right,' he stated.