A north-east community mounted a campaign last night to safeguard a care service which provides accommodation and support for people with profound disabilities.
The Willowbank Bungalows project, on the edge of Peterhead, is under review, which has prompted fears for its future.
Aberdeenshire Council has begun individual assessments of each of the homes’ 14 residents.
The local authority has stressed that no decision has been taken to shut the service. But it admits closure is an option.
If it is decided that residents would receive better care elsewhere, they would be moved out of their homes and the future of the bungalows would be considered.
Last night, about 100 people – mostly concerned relatives – packed out the Willowbank Centre dining hall. The meeting was called by family members who are keen to end uncertainty over the bungalows’ fate.
Relatives and local councillors said they had been kept in the dark about the review. Many said the first they heard about it was in the Press and Journal two weeks ago.
Architect Glen Strachan, who chaired the meeting, said: “The staff at Willowbank were told their future was up for review and jobs would be lost.”
He said he had heard unofficial and unconfirmed reports from people close to the centre that one option being considered was to move out the bungalows’ residents and move in others with more complex needs.
He said these included people with autism, people with violent, behavioural problems and “sexual predators”.
Earlier, a spokeswoman at council headquarters was asked if the local authority proposed to house residents at Willowbank who had more specialist care needs. She replied: “We have no plans at present.”
Mr Strachan, whose sister-in-law is a resident at one of the three bungalows, added: “Our aim is to gather as much support as possible to show Aberdeenshire Council that Willowbank is not a soft touch. Its not up for grabs.”
It is believed that individual assessments of residents have to be completed by Monday. A report will then be drawn up and brought before councillors at a later date.
Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford, who attended last night’s meeting, said: “I have very grave concerns about the way this process has been handed. If our councillors didn’t know what was going on, what kind of consultation is this?
“The Willowbank bungalows are a happy home to vulnerable people and we want to keep it that way.”
Families decided to show their support for the homes by starting a petition.
They also plan to launch a letter-writing campaign to, among others, Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Colin Mackenzie.
The council declined to send a representative to the meeting, and it is understood staff were also told to stay away.
But Mr Strachan said Mr Mackenzie had agreed to meet relatives in the coming weeks.
He also said he hoped to bring some of the bungalows’ residents along to the talks.
He told residents: “Go home to your beds and we will do everything we can to keep you in your homes.”
The bungalows recently received a glowing inspection report from the Care Commission.