East Midlands beach closes to allow giant delivery despite 27C temperatures

A popular artificial beach will be closed for two days after a water company accidentally planned to work on one of the hottest days of the year. Sykes Lane Beach at Rutland Water will not be open on Tuesday 30 July or Wednesday 31 July.

Because Anglian Water replaces the sand on site. And while when the work was booked there was no hot weather in the forecast, temperatures over the two days are set to peak around 27C.

A social media post from Rutland Water said: “Sykes Lane beach is closed today and tomorrow. This means there is no access to the beach. Mini golf, cafe, visitor center and playground remain open. If you want to cool off in the heat, please go to the water sports center at Whitwell, they have some great deals on kayak and SUP hire.”

In total, 200 tons of sand are replaced on site, with 100 tons being delivered every day. Deliveries can’t be moved, which means the work needs to happen now.

Rutland Water explained that due to the wet spring water levels in the reservoir remained very high and as a result there was no space on the shoreline to put sand on the beach. As the weather has dried, the water level has dropped, meaning there is now room to put sand.

There are no plans to close the beach on any other day of the summer unless the weather or water quality is poor.