A 30ft tall golden statue of a naked man once used to promote the film Gladiator, and which has been outside shops in Wigan for five years, has been taken away after a row with the local council.
The statue, known locally as Golden Balls or Willy, spent five years outside Titan Flooring Specialists in Wigan before moving to the car park outside a furniture store. The figure's owner told the MEN it's now in storage to protect it from the cold winter.
Wigan Council said they have been 'liaising with the landowner for the relevant planning permission for the statue'.
Councillor Stuart Gerrard posted a picture on Facebook of the statue being removed and said: "If you do happen to venture into Wigan, you may of noticed the giant golden statue with certain unmissable features. Apparently the council have demanded it's removal."
Cllr Gerrard said he thought the statue was 'art', and that there was 'nothing really offensive about it'. He said: "Obviously there is an appendage, but art all over the world has got that. Some of the most famous pieces in the world are in a similar style. They don't get removed.
"For me, it's just a bit of light relief, really."
Commenting on the Facebook post Les Taylor said: "Aww, oh no. I loved driving past that. Now the drive will be so boring.
The giant statue outside Titan Flooring Specialists in Wigan before it was transported to a furniture store (Image: SWNS)
"Life's hard enough as it is at the minute, now even a little bit of fun to make you giggle has disappeared. Shame on Wigan Council."
Rebecca-Ann Ford said 'I think my two little ones will cry next time we come past'.
One Facebook user commented: "About time they took it down," and another said "Oh thank god it repulsed me everytime I drove past it."
A Wigan Council spokesperson said: “The council has been liaising with the landowner as regards to the need for the relevant planning permission for the statue. The statue has been removed very recently, and so the Council is now reviewing its next steps in line with its normal processes.”
