Crystal Palace Park Trust started removing some installations on Friday
(Picture: Crystal Palace Park Trust)Christmas lights from an abandoned family-friendly festive show are being removed from a park in Crystal Palace after being left stranded for weeks.
Outreach Creative, which ran the Lightopia festival in south London’s Crystal Palace Park, collapsed into administration a week after the light show ended, leaving garish debris in its wake.
Large illuminated statues of rabbits with wings, unicorns and circus tents were left scattered across the park.
Residents complained they were an eyesore and a safety risk.
Crystal Palace Park Trust had said it was illegal for the trust or council workers to remove the installations as they are still owned by the company, which is under the control of court-appointed administrators.
But the trust said the removal process began on Friday and is expected to end by 12 February.
In a statement, Crystal Palace Park Trust said it shared the "disappointment and frustration at this unanticipated and unforeseen situation".
A statement on its website reads: “Removal of the remaining equipment on site began on Friday 27 January with the removal of scaffolding. The removal of the lanterns began on Sunday 29 January, and they are being consolidated into one place out of the way in preparation of their final removal from the park in large vehicles.
“We do not yet know how long the process will take, but still expect that it will be completed the week commencing 6 February at latest.
“We understand that this is very frustrating to park users, and we share your disappointment and frustration as this unanticipated and unforeseen situation, especially given thorough due diligence performed on all event operators.
“Reinstatement to the park will occur as planned once weather and ground conditions permit (temperature, water, etc). We are ensuring that the contractor that undertakes reinstatement will be ready to commence work as soon as conditions allow.”
Heaton Park in Manchester and Alton Towers in Staffordshire were also left filled with disintegrating junk after the collapse of Outreach. But the remains were quickly cleared from those sites.
