West Moors

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West Moors
West Moors shown within Dorset
Population	7,400^[1]
OS grid reference	SU0802
District	East Dorset
Shire county	Dorset
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WIMBORNE
Postcode district	BH21
Police	Dorset
Fire	Dorset
Ambulance	South Western
European Parliament	South West England
List of places: UK • England • Dorset

Coordinates: 50°49′26″N 1°53′19″W / 50.824, -1.8885

West Moors is a village in East Dorset, England, on the northern fringe of the Poole-Bournemouth conurbation, just outside the larger settlement of Ferndown. The parish of West Moors had an estimated population of 7,400 in 2004^[2].

West Moors grew up around the junction of the Southampton and Dorchester and Salisbury and Dorset Junction railway lines in the late 1800s and, although main line services were later diverted via Bournemouth, West Moors railway station was served by a branch line railway until May 4, 1964. The only remnants of these lines through the village are the original level crossing gatekeeper's cottage, which can still be seen on Station Road, and the Castleman Trailway footpath following the original trackbed leading to Ringwood in the east and Poole in the west.

The village only grew to any size with the expansion of the military fuel depot just outside the village (but within the West Moors civil parish). This base is now home to elements of the Defence Fuels Group, including the Defence School of Petroleum, and also to the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre. More recent population increases have been due to the influx of commuters, both to Bournemouth and Poole, and to more remote destinations such as Southampton, and even London.

West Moors has a mixed population, comprising military families (mainly living on their own housing estates), a relatively high proportion of elderly people, and significant number of young families. There are two first schools, one middle school, two youth clubs and a skatepark catering for the needs of these children.

Moors Valley Country Park is just outside the parish boundary (but 3 miles from the village).