Plans to end a “lifeline” service for people with severe care needs in Bath and North East Somerset have been paused after a public outcry.

Newton House in Bath offers respite care, short stays for people with severe care needs to allow full-time carers to have a short break.

But care provider Dimensions and Bath and North East Somerset Council wrote to users last week stating that the service would stop at the end of January.

Julie Franklin, whose son Ryan Probert requires a very high level of care, said the letter had been a “massive shock.”

Ryan’s stepfather Richard Franklin said: “They haven’t thought this through. It’s an invaluable service.”

A petition the Keynsham family started to save the service was signed by more than 1,300 people in three days.

But on Monday December 9, Bath and North East Somerset Council wrote again to families to say the planned closure had now been “paused” and to apologise for distress caused.

In the message, the council’s cabinet member for adult services Alison Born (Widcombe and Lyncombe, Liberal Democrat) said she became aware of the planned closure at the end of last week.

She said: “It has been agreed that the closure will be paused to allow time for the needs of all current users of the service to be reviewed and for alternative services to be identified in advance of any change to the provision at Newton House.

“I have also requested an up to date report on our respite offer across Bath and North East Somerset and have asked that all families currently using Newton House are advised that the planned closure has been paused while this work takes place.

“I hope this provides reassurance that we understand how vitally important respite care is and that service users and their families will be involved fully in the revised process.”

Mr Franklin said it was “great news” that the closure had been paused but said “it beggars belief” that the council did not know what other provision it had.

Newton House would have become a residential care home for people with learning disabilities, but the sudden decision to close the home without families or council members being aware has also triggered outrage among councillors.

Robin Moss (Westfield, Labour), who leads the opposition Labour group on the council, said: “The way this has happened has been absolutely totally unacceptable.”

He added: “I will be taking this up as leader of the opposition at the highest level to express my anger at how this decision has been taken without any consultation and without any consideration of the distress that this will cause families just before Christmas.”

Alan Hale (Keynsham South, Independent) said: “I am pleased that having raised this issue immediately with councillor Born, only a few hours after she was aware, the closure has been paused to understand the needs of service users. It is a great shame that that understanding was not sought before sending a letter to users telling them of the closure.”