Women and children moved out of town's only refuge

Bournemouth Women's Refuge provides temporary accommodation for 18 families

Families living in a town's only women's refuge must move to new accommodation before it closes in seven weeks.

Bournemouth Women's Refuge provides temporary accommodation for 18 families but will close at the end of July, with BCP Council saying the building was not suitable.

A petition against the closure has already gained 1,000 signatures.

The charity Women's Aid said it was "deeply concerned" and would be contacting the council about the decision.

BCP Council said none of the women or their families would be made homeless by the closure.

A spokesperson said: "The lack of self-contained accommodation and communal indoor space make the refuge unsuitable to continue to provide safe accommodation.

"Of the 18 families residing at the refuge, 10 have already moved to alternative safe accommodation or have agreed dates for planned moves.

"The remaining eight are being supported to move on to alternative housing in the next seven weeks."

BCP Council said the decision was not a financial one

Lucy Hadley, head of policy at Women’s Aid, said: "We know from our work with survivors that the peer support women give each other within a refuge is an essential part of the service, supporting them to recover and start rebuilding their lives.

"We are also deeply concerned to read the reports of trauma and fear that women and children living in the Bournemouth Women’s Refuge are facing at the prospect of being evicted in July, with nowhere to go."

The petition, launched by Julie Dinmore, says the closure would "leave countless women and children without a safe haven".

"We cannot allow this vital service to be shut down," she said.

Among those supporting the petition is around-the-world sailor Tracy Edwards MBE who shared it on social media.

Another petitioner, Sarah Gane, described the closure as "absolutely appalling" and urged the council to "get a grip".

BCP Council said the decision had not been taken to save money.