UK - Britain's oldest beach cafe is reduced to rubble
National Trust is accused of 'senseless vandalism' after ordering demolition of tourist spot over fears it would fall into the sea due to erosion
This pile of dirt is all that's left of Britain's oldest beach cafe after it was controversially razed to the ground as part of the National Trust's 'managed retreat' coastal erosion drive.
A brick wall and a gaping empty space are now all that remains of the historic timber building that had been in position at Middle Beach, Studland, Dorset, for more than a century.
The once-picturesque spot was said to have been visited by children's author Enid Blyton who often holidayed at a hotel nearby.
Thousands of hikers and dog walkers also happily stopped off at the cafe for a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich while taking in the spectacular sea view.
But the cafe was demolished earlier this year after the National Trust insisted it was at risk of coastal erosion.
Rather than bolster the sea defences to secure the cafe, the conservation charity decided to lose it altogether.
There had been overwhelming opposition against the demolition.Local residents said the cafe did not need to go as it was 100ft back and 20ft above the shoreline.
Studland Parish Council made a last ditch bid to have the building listed but to no avail.
The site is in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is now completely void of activity and has been fenced off.
A temporary mobile catering van has since opened further back in a car park at Middle Beach, which was left to the National Trust in 1982 by a local landowner.
Andrew Parsons, a Studland resident and former parish councillor who campaigned to save the cafe, said: 'It's just senseless exercise in vandalism. The terrace is still there but they have torn a historic building down.
'The National Trust is meant to conserve buildings of merit, that is what people pay their subscriptions for.
