NEW hope has been given to Weymouth’s women’s refuge after plans to sell the building which housed the service were thrown out.

Campaigners from the Friends of Weymouth Refuge said they were ‘delighted’ with the decision.

They are now working towards completing a business plan to revive a refuge for the town.

Borough councillors at a management committee meeting held yesterday morning gave the campaigners new hope of saving the refuge.

The decision came after a plea to the committee by Erin Pizzey, who founded the women’s refuge movement in 1971.

She said: “It is very sad that after 40 years I have had to come down here to beg you not to sell the refuge and give us all a chance.

“Whatever you do, think about the children of Dorset and the children of Weymouth and Portland.

“Each child that comes into the refuge, whatever violence that child has experienced, has already been damaged before they walk through the doors.

“There is no good in weeping over the Baby Ps, or the John Venables and Raoul Moats who we see grow old as monsters.

“Babies are not born evil, it’s the neglect within the community that destroys us.”

Councillors were given the opportunity to vote on three options.

These were to sell the building, to grant a new lease to a body prepared to run a domestic violence service or to allow the sale of the building with the proceeds ring-fenced to buy a new refuge.

Management committee members ruled out selling the building and transferring the assets to the council’s capital programme, which would result in the funds not being allocated for a replacement refuge.

They unanimously agreed to keep the other two options open.

Mary Watson, the chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum and a founder member of the Friends of Weymouth Refuge, said after the meeting: “We are all delighted that selling the building was ruled out.

“It would have been wonderful to have had a year to put our business plan forward and find the funding, but six months is good.”

Ms Pizzey, 71, added: “We have got to work very hard now but we’re confident we can do it.”

Coun Peter Chapman initially recommended that the Friends of Weymouth Refuge should only have four months to put forward their case but this was voted against by five to four.

Coun Howard Legg then suggested that the case should be addressed at the January meeting to give the group six months and this was then agreed unanimously.

Coun Ian James said: “These people have been working really hard to put something in place and I’d like them to have the time they need.”

Coun Christine James added: “These people have proven that a refuge like this is both relevant and needed.

“People feel emotional about it and so they should.”