STRONG reactions were posted on social media to White Horse News’ story about there being no plans to clean Westbury’s iconic white horse until 2022 – with some local tradespeople even offering to do the job themselves.
We reported in our last issue (issue 731 7th Jan) that residents had complained about the horse looking dirty and grey and enquiring as to when it would next be cleaned.
English Heritage, the lead stakeholder in the cleaning regime, told White Horse News that their team was running paint trials to keep the horse looking whiter for longer, and the next deep clean was scheduled for 2022.
Amongst the numerous comments were offers to clean it. “I would be more than happy to tackle the clean of the white horse, obviously I need to find out more information and sure I would need the owner’s permission,” said Carl Bonnici from Pro Clean Valeting and Detailing. And Chris Maclachlan from A Cleaner Exterior said, “We would love to be involved next time round.”
Some local people felt the cleaning was best left until the pandemic restrictions are over and others that the horse should not have been concreted over.
“Well right now we don’t want any tourists and we don’t want any outsiders visiting, so keep it grey and keep it ugly until it’s safe to invite people to the town,” a resident said. “Once it’s safe to clean it then clean it and clean it regularly not once it’s dirty we will clean it. The horse is a great tourist attraction and a great income for the town but until it’s safe to have tourists I say keep it dirty.”
Another said, “If they hadn’t decided to concrete the thing and instead leave it as chalk, which is a natural filter for muck, they wouldn’t have this issue; people making decisions in the short time and not looking ahead.”
While someone else added, “It’s terrible! It used to stand white and proud come sun, wind and rain with none of this grey glumness, it is now so sad.”
