PROTESTERS were left ‘disgusted and appalled’ after a final decision was made to close the Weymouth women’s refuge.

The decision was made by Dorset County Council’s cabinet after protesters lined the steps of county hall yesterday morning waving placards before handing over a 5,000 name petition.

The controversial decision was made by the council despite the fact that yesterday there were no spaces left in the whole of Dorset for women fleeing an abusive partner.

The refuge, which costs £83,000 a year to run, will now close on March 31 and a range of outreach services will take its place.

During the two-hour debate cabinet members heard from cross party political speakers as well as councillors and council officers.

Organisers of the protest Liberal Democrat Ros Kayes and South Dorset MP Jim Knight both pleaded with cabinet members to delay the decision for another six months to allow further consultation.

Following the decision Ros Kayes vowed to keep fighting the decision and added: “Shame on them for ignoring this need.

“This decision was taken entirely on the basis of money but the statement that they are providing adequate services for the money available just does not add up.

“People attending the meeting felt that the views of none of them had been listened to.

“The Cabinet had reached a foregone conclusion – despite being presented with a petition with signatures collected from all over Dorset.”

She added: “The battle is not over and community groups in Weymouth and Portland will fight to keep the refuge open come what may.”

Mr Knight added that he was disappointed that the council did not listen to their concerns and said people are ‘disgusted and appalled’ by the decision.

Leader of the House of Commons and Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman, backed the protest.

She said: “Refuges are vital in helping women escape the cycle of abuse and build a better life for themselves and their children.

“I am extremely concerned to hear that Dorset County Council may cut the funding for the refuge – which offers vital support for the women of Weymouth and Portland. I strongly back Jim Knight and all those who are campaigning to save the refuge.”

South Dorset Conservative Candidate Richard Drax also expressed his disappointment.

He said more money and resources should have gone into the Weymouth refuge rather than closing it.

Leader of the county council Angus Campbell said it was a tough decision for the cabinet to make. He said: “We have to make an attempt of getting a balance at a difficult time of the service.

“No-one is arguing that refuges are not necessary but the outreach work is also needed for women in Dorset.”

The cabinet heard that more than £100,000 will be spent on outreach services for women across Dorset and Steve Pitt, director of Adult and Community Services assured the members that this would included provision for emergency shelter for women.

He said that the community based support for domestic violence victims at present is ‘a postcode lottery’ and that only 25 per cent of women referred to the refuge were from Dorset.

Chairman of Weymouth and Portland’s Domestic Violence Forum Ruth Mills said: “They say that the refuge is only six beds – but that is potentially six lives saved.”

Protester Jo Atwell added: “In a civilised society we should protect our vulnerable people and by taking away the refuge we are failing to do that.”