WEYMOUTH Women’s Refuge is set to rise from the ashes.

There is fresh hope today that the safe house could be re-established in Weymouth with two new business proposals on the table.

The linked proposals – one from an unnamed charity and the other from the Friends of Weymouth Refuge – were presented to the borough council yesterday.

One suggests that the existing building could be refurbished and potentially extended, while the other proposes a new fit-for-purpose building is bought.

In April, members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s management committee agreed that council officers could assess proposals from organisations prepared to manage a refuge in the current building or an alternative venue in the borough.

The decision to close the women’s refuge was taken in September and it closed its doors in March. The closure was met with widespread public condemnation and a 7,000-name signature opposed the move.

But campaigners say Weymouth could now end up with an even better service for abused women.

Proposals from the Friends of Weymouth Refuge are being headed by chairwoman Mary Watson, Gill Taylor, and South Dorset’s Lib-Dem spokesman Ros Kayes.

Mrs Kayes said: “The business case from the charity factors in the price of refurbishing the existing building and also to extend the building.

“One of the business cases involves selling it and buying a different building that is more modern and fit for purpose, which probably wouldn’t have refurbishment costs and more rooms.

“Potentially we could rent out some rooms. The refuge could be partly funded through income from the rented-out flats.”

Mrs Kayes believes either option is viable but in order to be financially sound there would have to be more beds available.

“Because it needs to have 24-hour supervision and we can’t afford to employ somebody for 24 hours, we need more beds and more income,” she said.

Rough estimates indicate that £134,000 would provide a six-bed unit in the existing building, or £220,000 for a nine-bed facility.

Ms Taylor said: “Of the £134,000, half would be paid for by the unnamed charity involved and the other half will have to be found by fundraising, grant funding, and so on. So the Friends would be looking to find about £70,000 year on year.”

A council spokesman said: “The borough council has been considering the future of the the women’s refuge building following the decision by Dorset County Council to de-commission the refuge in Weymouth.

“The council has received two proposals and they will be considered by the council’s management committee on August 3.”