Sir – You publish (March 29) a picture of a large and crude statue of a polar bear, with a person prancing on top of it, which has recently been set up in front of the University Museum.

It joins a collection of other clutter, including the so-called ‘Ghost Forest’, a set of enormous tree-trunks on concrete bases; the so-called ‘Darwin Obelisk’, a stone pillar designed by a schoolgirl; and railings around the surviving Wellingtonia. Planning permission was sought for none of these, although they seriously affect the setting of the Grade I-listed museum.

Permission was sought, a couple of years ago, for a life-size giraffe pursued by hyenas, made of wire, but fortunately they failed to appear.

I wrote to the head of planning control and conservation, Michael Crofton-Briggs, about these matters last November, but he replied: “I have reviewed the points you raise and it is my view that they do not merit spending officer time in order to reply.”

It appears that the council officers are unconcerned about the setting of the museum.

Peter Howell, Secretary, The Victorian Group of the Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society, Oxford