One of Whitby's most loved tourist landmarks has been removed, with a £70,000 'ethical' bronze replica now set to take its place. The original whale jaw bone - known as Whalebone Arch, was first erected in 1853, and is now displayed in the Yorkshire seaside town's Heritage Centre. Its current replacement was installed in 2002 after being gifted to the area by Whitby's twin town of Barrow in Alaska.The landmark has been a popular tourist photo opportunity for decades, with some couples even taking their vows under the arch. However, years of exposure to the weather on the coast has led to significant deterioration in the latest arch's condition, meaning the bones now need to be replaced again.Planning officials have since made the controversial decision to consign the statue to the town's history books - replacing the jawbone with a more ethical alternative. Tourists watched on as the statue was extracted from its foundations on Tuesday. Whitby's famous whale bone arch is getting a new lease of life with a replacement The iconic structure was removed this week as part of the controversial planFollowing major discussions on the best alternative to the baleen, a bronze replica was selected as the preferred solution to pay tribute to the tourist town's rich maritime heritage.The new structure, which is set to be installed early next year, will replicate the appearance and scale of the arch. It will, say officials, provide a durable, sustainable and long-term future for the landmark.Executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, said: 'The whale bone arch is one of Whitby's most treasured landmarks and an important part of the town's maritime heritage. It has been a popular photo spot among tourists since it was installed in 2002'The removal of the arch is a landmark day in the town's recent history, as visitors have flocked to see and photograph the bones for over two decades.'Importantly, the bronze replicas provide an ethical alternative to the use of whale bones, allowing this iconic landmark and its connection to Whitby's maritime heritage to be preserved in a way that reflects modern conservation values.'We look forward to seeing the new arch in situ. It will stand for decades to come, ensuring this iconic feature continues to inspire residents and visitors long into the future.'Locals, meanwhile, are not all convinced. On Facebook group 'Welcome to Whitby', one disgruntled resident wrote: 'Whitby whalebones have just been removed! People in Whitby were visibly upset!! me too!!'Another chimed in in the comments section: 'Will be a very very strange view for a while. End of an era.' On the other hand, it's not all doom and gloom.Oe admitted: 'No time would be the right time, we all love our whalebones but it needs to be done. I've lived here for a long time and am sad to see them missing, but excited for the new ones being done.'A second said: 'Am sure we've all got dozens of photos of the bones over the years, and a new bone structure in a different medium will give us all new memories and photo ops for many years to come.' One couple even posed under the structure after being married in 2023 The arch, which has featured in countless numbers of tourist photographs of the seaside town and its abbey, was erected after it was gifted by Whitby's twin town Join the discussionIs it right to replace Whalebone Arch with a £70,000 bronze replica? What's your view?Bronze was chosen as the material for the replacement due to its strength, longevity and ability to withstand the challenging conditions on Whitby's West Cliff.Over time, it will develop a natural patina (top colourful layer), while retaining the distinctive form that has become synonymous with the town's seafront.Feedback from residents and visitors has shown a bronze replacement as the most fitting option to reflect the maritime heritage and importance of the internationally recognised symbol of the town, framing the famous views towards Whitby Abbey and attracting thousands of visitors every year.Creating the new bronze arch is a complex process that will involve producing moulds from the existing bones and manufacturing a bespoke internal framework.Whitby Town Mayor Cllr Sandra Turner added: 'The whale bone arch means a great deal to residents and visitors alike.'While it is sad to see the current bones reach the end of their life, the new bronze arch will ensure this landmark continues to celebrate Whitby's history and provide a focal point on West Cliff for future generations.'