CARE home closures planned by Devon County Council have been put on hold as a result of a legal challenge. In June it was announced that as part of Devon County Council's bid to save £110-million over the next four years due to cuts in government funding, it would be closing 20 care homes including Harewood House in Tavistock and Wardhayes in Okehampton. More than 750 jobs will be lost and 260 residents moved into private care homes over 18 months if the proposals go ahead. A spokesman for Devon County Council said: 'A legal challenge has been launched against the county council regarding the closure of the council-run residential care homes. 'As a result of this we have been asked by the court to temporarily suspend the closure programme until this challenge has been resolved. 'We have submitted an appeal against this decision which will be heard as soon as possible. 'We are therefore pausing all resident assessments and staff notice meetings pending further legal advice and will continue to provide appropriate care to all residents in our homes.' David Benzie, whose father attends Harewood House for both respite and the day centre, said: 'I welcome both the challenge to the care home closures and the decision to put current plans on hold. 'As I have said before, I am not against change but it has become increasingly clear that the current plans are simply designed to cut services to the weakest and most vulnerable in our society. 'If the changes had been motivated by the desire to help the old and frail, with a reasonable link to increased efficiency, several things would have happened. Firstly, plans and options for good quality day care as an alternative to the excellent care currently provided by Harewood House would be advancing. As far as I know, they are not. Secondly, plans and options for residential care (particularly respite) would be advancing. Nothing new is on the table. Thirdly, imaginative solutions for the re-use of the Harewood House site would be being explored. To the best of my knowledge they are not. 'In June Conservative council leader John Hart and other political leaders wrote to the Government about the impact of the cuts. It is increasingly clear that local politicians are simply being ignored — and the Government is leaving the weakest members of the community to pay the price.'