Controversial plans to close and sell-off county council-run old peoples homes are likely to be contested in the courts, it emerged today.

Campaigners are making a last-ditch attempt at County Hall to persuade social services chiefs to reconsider their proposals for some of the homes, which involve the closure of three.

But during today’s meeting of KCC’s cabinet scrutiny committee, which is hearing from campaigners and relatives from four of the homes, the council was told to expect a Judicial Review over its plans for one.

John Porter, whose mother is at the Bowles Lodge home in Hawkhurst, revealed that he had instructed solicitors to begin proceedings against the authority to contest the way KCC had gone about the consultation process.

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The home is one of three KCC wants to replace with sheltered accommodation and 24-hour care.

He said: "I give official notice that I am seeking a Judicial Review to look at Bowles Lodge."

During a submission to the cross-party meeting, Mr Porter said: "Cllr Gibbens [the cabinet member for adult social care] has repeatedly said that these changes are about dignity and respect.

"Moving my mother out her own home would be undignified and disrespectful."

The committee is expected to decide later this afternoon whether to ask KCC to reconsider any of the proposals but does not have the power to overturn them.

Speaking at today’s meeting, Cllr Gibbons said he had not expected people to welcome the shake-up.

"I have listened to what people have said. I expected people to be concerned to feel hurt and to feel I was doing something bad."

Under its plans, KCC would close outright three homes: Ladesfield in Whitstable; Sampson Court in Deal and The Limes in Dartford.

Three others would be sold off to the private sector and KCC will negotiate agreements allowing it to secure places at them.

These are Blackburn Lodge, Sheerness; Doubleday Lodge, Sittingbourne and Kiln Court at Faversham.

Three other homes will be replaced with sheltered accommodation.

These are Bowles Lodge at Hawkhurst; Cornfields in Dover and Manorbrooke at Dartford.