The erection of high metal fencing within Lines Field (off Louviers Road at Littlemoor) prompted considerable anguish among Weymouth residents. For ramblers, dog-walkers and horse-riders this was a major obstruction to the thoroughfares many had enjoyed for decades. New owners of the field, Bellway Homes (who have outline planning permission to build 100 homes in the field), had also erected a huge board on the roadside verge, requesting information regarding other possible sites for house building.

 

On behalf of local people, Malcolm Beeson (chair of the Big4Littlemoor Lottery Partnership) and partnership member Valerie Bright have been collecting the names of people who have been walking the many well-established paths within the field. If they can prove that a footpath has been in continual use for at least 20 years, then that path can be officially recognised and included on Ordnance Survey maps. Any building works would then have to take these footpaths into account.

 

Valerie and Malcolm have obtained copies of the relevant forms from Dorset County Council and have already found enough people to allow them to register claims on four distinct paths. If more people come forward with long-standing experience of walking within Lines Field (at the Preston end of Littlemoor, opposite Primula Close) then it is possible that as well as strengthening the case for these four paths, other footpaths might also be protected.

 

Malcolm is confident that these footpaths will be accepted as having been in use for at least 20 years. His claim is supported by an aerial photograph which he has of the field, taken 17 years ago, that clearly shows that all of the paths were in regular use, even then.

 

As further evidence of community power, the notice board that had been erected on the roadside verge was first lowered in height and then removed. After representations by Valerie and Malcolm, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council declared it to be illegal and ordered that it be taken away.

 

Malcolm says that Bellway will find it difficult to find space within the field for their planned 100 homes. As well as the footpaths that are being identified, criss-crossing the field, there is a huge twenty two inch water main crossing it on its way from Sutton Poyntz to Weymouth; and two gas pipelines too.

 

Malcolm has expressed his gratitude to all the people, from as far afield as Preston and Chickerell, who have declared their long-term use of the footpaths by filling in the form.

 More people are still needed, to firm-up the case for preservation. Forms are available at Littlemoor Library, and can be returned there once completed.

 

 

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    Congratulations to Littlemoor housewife Laura James on the publication in paperback of her second novel  Follow Me, Follow You.

    Her first book, Truth Or Dare was published as an ebook and has been in the Amazon top 100 romantic fiction books  for some time.

    Despite suffering from arthritis and having limited movement in her hands and wrists Laura still manages to write and is often found on a Monday morning at the library where she is a keen member of Off The Cuff, Littlemoor’s creative writing group.