NHS and remembrance sculptures in Dudley to be taken down due to lack of planning permission

Brothers Liam and Steve Harris, who work at family-run Colstan Profile Ltd, created the steel statues and placed them at Cinder Bank island in Dudley – where they have received a number of compliments.

The soldier sculpture has been in place since November, while the nurse statue was put up at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to show solidarity with frontline workers.

But this month, the brothers said they were "shocked" when they received a letter from Dudley Council's planning department, informing them the statues would now need to be taken down.

The letter said the sculptures had "served their purpose".

Steve Harris, age 32, said: "We were really shocked when we saw the letter. It's not as though they're hurting anyone, being there.

"A lot of people in the area have said how nice they are – it brightens their day up.

"The Remembrance Day statue especially holds sentimental value for us as a family – as our uncle died suddenly just after we put it up at Cinder Bank – he was only 47. We sort of feel like it's his statue now.

"We don't really see how they need planning permission. I think they're just being awkward."

The letter sent to Steve and Liam was from Dudley Council Planning Department and read: "It has come to our attention that two statues/artwork have appeared on the Cinder Bank Island, Dudley.

"Whilst no action to date has been considered, after a discussion with our design and public art team, we feel that the art work has now served its purpose and to leave the artwork there indefinitely would undermine the submission of planning applications for similar developments across the borough.

"I would kindly ask that these statues are now removed on or before November 13 2020 as they are currently erected without the benefit of planning permission."