Campaigners in Kirklees fighting to save two dementia care homes are holding a public meeting.

Families with loved ones at Castle Grange in Newsome and Claremont House in Heckmondwike fear the disruption will be harmful to their relatives.

The campaign group is considering a judicial review of the council’s closure threat and lawyer Yogi Amin, from law firm Irwin Mitchell, will address the meeting.

The meeting will be held on Monday January 22 (6.30pm) at Mirfield Community Centre in Water Royd Lane, Mirfield.

The council’s public consultation on the proposed closures ended on January 3 and a final decision is expected in February.

The move is part of a drastic package of cuts aimed at slashing £47 million off the council’s budget for the next financial year.

Mr Amin, who worked with Hands Off HRI on the campaign to save the A&E at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, will discuss the next stages in the legal action.

Campaigners including Sarah Newton, Sara and Gemma Blagbrough, Donna Mallinson and Helen Plaskitt have taken their campaign to several council meetings, speaking about the impact having to move their relatives could have on their condition.

Sarah, Sara and Gemma have written heartbreaking personal accounts of their families’ dementia journeys, which have been published by Huddersfield Hub.

‘Loving someone with dementia is like being on a rollercoaster that you can’t get off’

The meeting, also due to be addressed by Kirklees Council’s Green group leader and Newsome councillor Andrew Cooper, is open to any member of the public who wants to attend.

A spokesman for the campaign group said: “All of us have been thrown into the nightmare scenario of our loved ones being potentially evicted from their homes because of spending cuts.

“We have argued very forcefully that this is a false economy which will have huge repercussions, not just for us, but the wider Kirklees community.

“We are committed to doing whatever it takes to protect and safeguard these homes. It is very disappointing that the council does not share our views.

“We are being left with no choice but to pursue legal action, however we have said all along we will do whatever it takes to look after our loved ones.

“Irwin Mitchell has been very supportive of our cause so far and we are grateful they have agreed to attend our public meeting.

“We extend an invitation to all those who wish to support us and these homes to come along. Everyone will be welcome. There has to be another way.”

Sarah Newton’s heartbreaking dementia journey began with a phone call from her dad saying: ‘I’m in Birmingham and I’m lost’