One man’s bid to create a tourist landmark on the face of North Barrule is under review for a possible breach of planning laws.

Government planning officers have launched an investigation into the stone triskelion after its feet were painted white without approval.

The project’s architect, Bryan Callister told the Isle of Man Examiner: ’I wanted to do something different for the Isle of Man.

’I was not after any glory.’

Last year, the 71-year-old brought hundreds of rocks up the steep hillside after seeking permission from the landowner to build what he believed would become a tourist landmark.

After 12 weeks of building the 30 metre diameter ’art installation’, Mr Callister (pictured below) submitted plans for approval to paint it.

Whilst awaiting the decision, he painted the feet of the three legs white.

He has since withdrawn his application.

In a letter to the planning authority he said ’[I] simply tried to do something good for the Isle of Man, but they don’t want it, so maybe I’m wrong’.

Ramsey Commissioners were told by planning there was an ’existing enforcement case’ after it forwarded a complaint about the installation from a Ramsey resident who branded the 100ft hillside triskelion ’an eyesore’.

The issue was raised at the Commissioners’ monthly meeting last week.

Luke Parker said it was an eyesore in a prominent place and wondered if planning regulations had been breached in any way.

Clerk Peter Whiteway replied that it was the subject of an investigation by planners.

Apparently, he said, the original construction did not need planning permission, but if Mr Callister wanted to remove it he would have to seek planning approval. ’It’s a farce!’ said Mr Whiteway.

Ramsey Commissioners discussed the plans to paint the stones white in February.

They felt it was a matter of interest even though the application was for a site in Lezayre as it is visible from the town.

The commissioners agreed to ’oppose the application as submitted’.

Meanwhile, Lezayre Commissioners said if the application was supported the stones should be whitewashed rather than painted.

The feature has divided opinion online.

In a Facebook group called ’Ramsey Community Pinboard’ a poll was created to gain an opinion on the hillside triskelion.

Some 237 votes were given for the option ’It’s great, paint it white!’, 60 people voted ’Keep it but don’t paint it’, 13 people voted ’It’s awful, it should go’ with five people requesting that Mr Callister receives a knighthood.