Vulnerable and elderly residents living in sheltered housing in Exeter fear they could be left to die after plans were announced to take away a 'lifeline' support service.
The contentious move by Devon County Council (DCC) to stop its warden service is likely to affect hundreds of older people in supported accommodation across the city.
The tenants are currently visited up to three times a week by wardens who ensure they are safe and well, and can be contacted at any time by an emergency button.
However, the authority says it has "no choice" in the current financial climate but to end its provision of housing services in March 2015 for people deemed without social care needs.
Pamela Hopkins, 78, who lives in Teazle Court on Commercial Road, said: "The wardens have saved many lives and without them people will die or clog up hospital beds which are in short supply anyway."
"It is always the most vulnerable who get the least help, and taking the warden service away will cost money in the long run and cause a lot of unnecessary suffering."
Cllr Roy Hill, county councillor for Alphington and Cowick, has written an urgent letter to the leader of DCC, Cllr John Hart, to ask what systems will be put in place to replace the wardens.
Cllr Hill said: "We have got a lot of very worried people because the county council is not telling them what the alternative is going to be."
Councillors also expressed concern that none of the locally elected members were apparently told about the proposed changes.
Cllr Richard Westlake, leader of the Labour group on DCC, said: "This is very serious as it means that there is a breakdown in the democratic process.
He wants the decision to be referred to the procedures committee, so that it can be discussed officially.
Cllr Hill added: "We don't even know if this just affects Exeter or includes the rest of the county."
The Conservative-run authority needs to reduce its spending by £110 million over the next three years due to Government cuts.
A spokesman said: "Devon County Council is not a landlord or housing authority.
"We have agreed to continue funding warden services until next year, but from then will only provide social care support to those with eligible care needs.
"We are making no changes to people's eligibility. Everyone who has an eligible need for the County Council's support will continue to receive it."
Exeter City Council – that currently delivers the warden service – is deciding how it will provide 'low level' support for tenants from April 2015.
A spokesman said: "At this stage, we don't know how many residents will continue to receive DCC-funded care packages, and how many won't."
Last week DCC announced a controversial move to shut all but two of its 22 residential care homes in a drastic bid to reduce its social care spending by £10.7m.
