Any move by the Western Health and Social Care Trust to close four residential homes for the elderly in the north west is likely to face a legal challenge.

The trust has proposed the closure of four homes in Derry, Omagh, Strabane and Lisnaskea in a drive to save £36 million over the next three years. The authority also intends to close two of its nine children’s homes. The plan will go through a public consultation process before a decision is made.

Officials met residents and staff from Foyleville home in Derry, Gortmore in Omagh, Greenfield in Strabane and Drumhaw in Lisnaskea to outline the proposals which, if adopted, would take effect next September.

A trust spokesman said the move arose from a review of care and accommodation services for older people.

“The trust has developed a range of community services that focus on enabling people to remain in their own homes and maintain their independence,” he said.

The spokesman said money saved by the closures would be used to develop services including specialist care for those with “long-term conditions”.

The move is likely to be opposed by politicians and families of the 97 people in the four homes.

Derry Sinn Fein councillor Billy Page said relatives had been in touch with him.

“I know at least one who said they would wait for the full proposals to be published but would then seek a judicial review of the decision,” he said.

Mr Page said some families feared their loved ones would be hospitalised.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan also criticised the proposals. He said his party had feared an assembly budget vote in the name of efficiency would turn into “cuts to frontline services”.