Middle Beach, Dorset
{{Short description|Beach in Dorset, England}}
File:Studland , Middle Beach Car Park - geograph.org.uk - 1712570.jpg
Middle Beach is a small beach on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. The beach is located north of Studland and is owned by the National Trust.{{Cite web |title=Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23133190.middle-beach-cafe-cease-trading-national-trust-decision/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Dorset Echo |language=en}}
Beach
Café
A café has stood in the same spot since 1904 and the current building opened in 1953.{{Cite web |title=Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23131734.middle-beach-cafe-cease-trading-national-trust-decision/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} In 2016, when the National Trust announced that they would be moving the café and public toilets to higher ground due to "coastal erosion and subsidence", 3,000 people signed a petition opposing the move.{{Cite web |title=Middle Beach café to stay while National Trust explores ‘all options’ |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14814097.middle-beach-cafe-to-stay-while-national-trust-explores-all-options/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} Plans to demolish the café were later rejected by a vote of National Trust members at their annual general meeting.{{Cite news |date=2016-10-25 |title=Middle Beach Cafe protesters lose National Trust vote |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-37760645 |access-date=2022-11-18}} In November 2022 the café was condemned to be demolished after the lease on the property ran out.{{Cite web |title=Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/cafe-set-close-nearly-70-170000391.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=uk.news.yahoo.com |language=en-GB}} The café closed for the final time on 2 January 2023.{{Cite web |title=Cafe set to close after nearly 70 years of trading after National Trust decision |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23131734.middle-beach-cafe-cease-trading-national-trust-decision/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}{{Cite web |title="An institution": Sadness as much-loved and historic café closes |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23223821.studlands-middle-beach-cafe-closes-national-trust-decision/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} After its demolition the National Trust was accused of turning the beach in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty into a "bomb site" and an "eyesore".{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=Demolished beach cafe site branded 'a horror show' |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23736248.studland-demolished-middle-beach-cafe-site-horror-show/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} In 2024, the planned removal of the pumping station, retaining wall and sea defences will take place.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=Work to begin in new year at site of demolished popular cafe |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23993315.next-phase-work-middle-beach-cafe-studland/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}
Unexploded devices
On 31 December 2021, police closed the car park after a World War I grenade was uncovered.{{Cite web |title=Beach car park closed off and bomb disposal called after hand grenade found |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19819239.dorset-beach-closed-ww1-hand-grenade-found/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} On 4 August 2022, an unexploded World War II shell was found on Middle Beach and was detonated by Royal Navy's bomb disposal team.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-04 |title=Unexploded WW2 shell found on Middle Beach in Studland detonated |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-62423722 |access-date=2022-11-18}}
References
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Category:National Trust properties in Dorset