Angus residents angry over proposed changes to sheltered housing provision will stage a protest outside a council meeting on Thursday.
Angus Council has pledged that “all opinions count” as a public consultation over provision continues, with services such as site wardens and community lounges thought to be under threat.
Residents are up in arms about the thought of losing their wardens and community lounges.
The consultations have caused an outcry among families, with the reaction described as “extremely hostile”, while residents of one complex were told demand for sheltered housing had gone down.
But a group of residents and their families from across the county have called on others to attend a meeting of the full Angus Council in Forfar at 2pm.
Thomas Fowler, 70, who lives with his wife in sheltered housing in Letham, said members of the public are entitled to sit in the chamber, even if their views go unaired.
He said residents in sheltered housing across Angus are “very concerned” about potential changes.
“We are looking for as many residents and their families as possible to come to the Town and County Buildings in Forfar on Thursday,” he said.
“This may not be on the agenda for councillors to discuss, but we can make it painfully clear how their constituents feel. We need to let everyone know the strength of feeling about this. And we do not want to let this become a done deal.”
Dave Coull, 74, who lives in Inglis Court in Edzell, said: “A lot of folk in sheltered hosing have mobility issues so a lot of folk who are very affected by these cuts are unable to be there, but we are encouraging everyone who can get there to be there.
“There will be folk coming from Montrose, Letham, Edzell and Forfar.
“We want folk who have family involved and folk who are simply supportive to come along.
“We think this consultation exercise they are going through is really just a box-ticking exercise. It was intended as a done deal but we are going to make sure it’s not a done deal.”
The peaceful protest will start at 1.30pm, half an hour before the start of the council meeting.
Conservative MSP for the north-east Alex Johnstone said he believed changes to sheltered housing are part of a “centralising agenda” directed by the Scottish Government.
“Residents are absolutely right to be concerned,” he said.“This is an appalling proposal that should be scrapped immediately to give reassurance to these vulnerable residents.”