8:58am Wednesday 9th May 2007
By Ben Glass
FOR the first time in its history Littlemoor has entered the Dorset village of the year competition.
The Weymouth suburb is vying for title of best large community village - an award bestowed to the county's finest communities.
Last year picturesque Pimperne scooped the best large community village accolade and Litton Cheney won the best small village award.
But now Littlemoor Community Action Group has entered - and members reckon they are in with a chance.
Malcolm Beeson, chairman of the Littlemoor Community Action Group, said: "Littlemoor people are worried about the reputation they've had for decades.
"Unfortunately when the estate was built soon after the war it picked up a number of families that didn't fit in with the community and developed a reputation.
"That reputation has persisted through the decades but nowadays we just do not deserve it. Like any community we've got one or two dysfunctional families that don't fit with the rest but basically Littlemoor now is no different to any other part of Weymouth or any other part of Britain.
"We're upset about the reputation we've had because there's so much here.
"We've just been designated as a community village. We're very pleased about that and it now means that our people now realise that Littlemoor has an identity - it isn't just a suburb of Weymouth.
Mr Beeson said the group's entry will give judges plenty to think about.
He said: "I think we're going to take the judges by surprise whoever they are. They think that a village is stuck out in the hills. Well look around you. We're stuck out in the hills, in a little valley. The hills that surround us are beautiful. We're a bus ride from town but we've got the best bus service in Weymouth and we've got everything that a community needs.
"The doctors, the dentists, the library, the church, the community hall and people who are interested in it. We are a community who are as good as any other village."
The competition is run by Dorset Community Action.
Competition boss Simon Thompson said: "Littlemoor has entered the best community village category.
"The population limit is 5,000 but the ward of Littlemoor is 3,320 so they can enter."
He added that the aim of the best village category was to highlight efforts in improving the community by a number of methods.
These include conservation, enhancing the environment, stimulating village life and caring for all inhabitants.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/trade_directory/