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Giant warning statues on army land approved

BBC Steel statues of silhouettes on Salisbury Plain. Close up image of the face and shoulders of a soldier wearing a beret.BBC
The steel silhouettes, including three 10ft (3m) tall "giants", were erected on Salisbury Plain last summer

Planning permission has been granted for dozens of statues of soldiers, cyclists and dog walkers to "continue to stand proudly" on Salisbury Plain.

A total of 29 steel silhouettes, including three 10ft (3m) tall "giants" modelled on local soldiers, were erected temporarily on the edge of an army training area in Wiltshire last summer.

Every year, hundreds of people put themselves at risk by wandering into military training areas and it was hoped the army of statues would act as a warning.

Lt Col Andy Hough, said the giants carry an important safety message and he is "delighted" they will be staying at Westbury.

Steel statues of silhouettes on Salisbury Plain of a woman wearing a bicycle helmet holding a bicycle with a small child in a bike seat. A man holding a bicycle is in the background.
The steel silhouettes of soldiers, dog walkers and cyclists were initially only going to stay in place for 28 days

The installation, near Bratton on the edge of the plain, was created by the charity, Standing with Giants (SWG).

Commissioned for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the steel silhouettes were initially only going to stay in place for 28 days.

Due to their popularity, Wiltshire Council agreed they could stay until the end of the year and now planning permission has been given for them to remain permanently.

Lt Col Hough, DTE Regional Commander, said it was "important" that armed forces' training was not uninterrupted and that the public were kept safe.

"Military training can take place at any time of day and night across the year," he said.

"The giants carry with them important safety messaging that we hope people will take on board when in and around the military training estate at Salisbury Plain."

Steel silhouette statues of a line of soldiers being watched by a dog. Other statues in the backgound representing members of the public who might want to walk on the land. One has a dog, and others have walking poles
Dan Barton, head of charity Standing with Giants, said it was "humbling" having your artwork "so keenly adopted by local residents"

Deborah Urch, from Westbury Town Council Town, said the statues have "really added something special to the area ".

"There was real excitement when the giants were unveiled last year and it's fantastic to know they'll be staying," she said.

Dan Barton, from SWG, said it was "humbling" having your artwork" so keenly adopted by local residents".

"We're delighted that this piece of art will be staying in Westbury, adjacent to such an iconic military training area."

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