The popular giant silhouette soldier statues at the White Horse are here to stay, after planning permission was granted.
Westbury’s ‘Standing with Giants’ statues were initially installed in 2024 as part of a temporary art piece promoting the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Respect the Range safety campaign. The 29 striking silhouettes, created by the charity Standing with Giants, have now been granted planning permission to remain in place indefinitely.
Earlier this year, Westbury Town Council agreed to assist with their upkeep and to seek support from local groups if permission was secured.
Town clerk Deborah Urch said, “There was real excitement when the giants were unveiled last year and it’s fantastic to know they’ll be staying.
“They have really added something special to the area, and local residents I’ve spoken to feel a real sense of pride in them.
“We have a strong relationship with our military, and we’re delighted that we’re able to support them by continuing to promote this key public safety message.”
Each year across the UK, thousands of incidents are recorded involving members of the public accessing MOD land where and when they shouldn’t, posing serious safety risks and often disrupting training exercises.
The statues by the White Horse serve as a striking and permanent reminder that the public should only access military training areas when and where it is safe to do so, and should exercise caution at all times.
Lt Col Andy Hough, Regional Commander of the Defence Training Estate in the South West, said, “Military training can take place at any time of day or night throughout the year and, with heightened tensions across the globe, it’s important our armed forces can train uninterrupted and that we work with the public to keep each other safe.”
Pictured: A veteran with one of the figures. MOD Crown Copyright.
