“SUITABLE MAINTENANCE ON PARK DINOSAURS NOT CARRIED OUT” – consultants
A CONSULTANTS report on the condition of the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace park says suitable maintenance did not appear to have been carried out on them.
The consultants comments come in documents accompanying a planning application to repair the dinosaurs.
“It was clear at the time of assessment that the pieces are currently in a state of disrepair and require significant conservation works, similar to those carried out in 2002” says the report..
“At the time of the site visit it did not appear that suitable maintenance had been carried out to the statues and geological illustrations since the last major works and this had led to similar issues reoccurring.
“It was noted that several of the statues are suffering from possible subsidence, which should be assessed and reviewed by the engineers.
“It is evident that several of the statues are becoming damaged due to this possible subsidence and thus are likely to require excavations and underpinning to provide suitable stability.”
The proposed works include: structural and fabric repairs to the statues; cleaning of the existing statues; re-decoration/ repainting of the dinosaur statues; repairs to geological features.
The works are intended to all of the statues and to the majority of the geological illustrations.
“Due to the scale of the works these may be phased over a number of projects when finances allow” says the report. “The works are prioritised into those statues in poorer condition.
“With regard to the conservation repairs to the statues and geology it is intended to retain as much as possible of the original existing fabric.
“Some stitching of more major fractures is necessary and where toes and tails have settled then some re-support works is required using micro-piles or below ground brackets fixed back to the brick box foundations.
“Repair materials will be informed by the 2000-2002 investigations (including paint analysis, render sampling etc.)
“Where area of render ‘skin; is cracked or loose repairs will be in mortar applied to match the original profiles and textures.
“Relatively minor repairs are required to the geological illustrations except the coal measures which requires slightly greater work as none were undertaken in the previous conservation repair contract.”
(Application number 15/02847/LBC alternative reference PP-04241662. Editor’s note: the documents accompanying the application include a fascinating history into how the dinosaurs in the park came to be.)