Community leaders in Moray have demanded talks with Scottish Secretary Michael Moore about the future of the area’s two airbases.
The RAF stations at Lossiemouth and Kinloss are worth more than £100million a year to the local economy and provide almost 5,000 jobs.
There are growing fears that one or both could be closed when Ministry of Defence spending is slashed as part of the UK Government’s drive to reduce the country’s budget deficit.
Moray Council convener George McIntyre revealed last night that he is to write to Mr Moore inviting him to a meeting.
A spokesman for the Scottish secretary said he would not comment until he had received the correspondence from the local authority.
The threat to the bases and the huge impact their loss would have on the area’s economy were discussed yesterday by the Moray Community Planning Board taskforce.
The group, which includes representatives from Moray Council, Grampian Police, education services and the NHS, was set up to resist any moves that would affect either of the bases.
Mr McIntyre, who chaired the taskforce meeting, said: “Moray has a long and proud history of supporting RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth and playing its part in the defence of the UK.
“Given that 20% of the Moray economy is defence-dependent, the strategic defence and security review now poses a real threat to the bases.
“The loss of one or both of the bases would be devastating for Moray and its economy.”
He added: “While it is of some comfort to hear that the chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has said that the regional impact must be taken into account when cuts are being made in Britain’s defence budget, it is apparent that the Ministry of Defence is resisting that approach.”
It is understood that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) officials in Inverness also want to hold talks with Mr Alexander to reinforce to him how vital the bases are to the wider economy of the region.
Moray MP Angus Robertson, who is also the SNP’s defence spokesman, said: “It is vital that the secretary of state hears from community representatives about the importance of the bases.
“Given the speed at which the strategic defence review is progressing, this meeting should take place within weeks.”
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said: “I am delighted that the taskforce is now up and running, given the dire consequences for Moray if the UK Government were to close any of our local bases.”
Jim Johnston, director of the Moray Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the decision to ask for talks with Mr Moore.
He said: “Inviting him up to Moray is a good move. The more focus brought to bear on the effects of any closures the better.”
Earlier this month, a source at Whitehall said the MoD was “thinking the unthinkable” and considering reducing the number of RAF bases in Scotland.
RAF Lossiemouth’s Tornado fighter-bombers are due to be phased out and replaced with stealth fighter-bombers, but not for at least another decade.
RAF Kinloss is due to become home to the replacement for the Nimrod surveillance aircraft that have just been retired from service.