WATCHET could lose an iconic sculpture of one of its best-loved characters, Derek the goose, only three weeks after it was unveiled.

This week the town was shocked to learn that unless planning permission is granted, the gleaming metal artwork could be removed from the harbourside under a district council enforcement notice.

Over £8,000 was raised from admirers all over the world to commemorate Derek, a female goose, which met a mysterious and violent death on the town slipway in October last year. Since then, Watchet resident Carron Scott has run a Derek the Goose website and led the campaign to provide a permanent memorial.

A distraught Carron, said online this week: “Despite many of you loving the memorial, a member of the public has complained and it seems that even though I was told that a licence had all been agreed, we have now been informed that due to the complaint I have to seek planning permission. I have no idea about these things and I am unsure how much it will cost. I am really sad this is happening. An enforcement notice is being sent to me, so the sculpture might have to come down.”

Local artist Chris Philling created the sculpture in memory of Derek, who lived in Watchet Marina for ten years and was fed and looked after by boat-owners, residents and visitors. Her death made national news and a local brewery made a commemorative “Derek the Goose” beer. The metal sculpture, lit at night by solar-powered lights, was placed inside the Esplanade railings overlooking the slipway and was unveiled by Chris Philling on October 2.

This week Derek’s supporters took to social media to protest against the anonymous complaint. One said: “Just how spiteful and narrow-minded can you get?” and another added: “Who would be petty enough to complain about something that so many people love?”

Now WACET, the town’s chamber of trade, has intervened with Somerset West and Taunton council and has offered to help with the planning application. Chairman John Richards said: “We agreed to take responsibility for the sculpture once it was erected, to pay for public liability insurance and help with anything else that cropped up.

“This unfortunate situation has arisen because some anonymous person decided to object to the district council and we became aware that the sculpture would need planning permission. Unfortunately, when we were applying for a licence no-one mentioned planning permission and we all assumed that a licence was all that was needed.”

Mr Richards added: “I am saddened that somebody has felt they should object about something as innocuous as this and which has upset a lot of people in the town.

“We now have to get planning permission or risk enforcement action. The planning application will cost £250 because of an unfortunate oversight by the district council who gave us the licence but did not tell us we had to apply for planning permission.

“Half the money for the application has already been raised and I am sure there are many people in the town who will rally round.”

A district council spokesman said: “We can confirm that an official complaint has been made by a member of the public to our planning enforcement team. A retrospective planning application to regularise the breach is to be submitted. No planning enforcement notice has been issued as we await the application. The planning enforcement complaint will remain open until this matter is resolved.”