Civic leaders have been urged to organise a campaign to ensure the survival of Kinloss Barracks on a par with the one which saved RAF Lossiemouth the axe.
The head of the council’s SNP opposition group Gary Coull said the local authority must form a task force aimed at making the case for its retention.
Councillor Coull is demanding council convener Allan Wright detail how the administration will work to convince military chiefs to keep the barracks open.
The Keith and Cullen councillor said the revelation the base was being considered for closure was “hugely concerning”.
He added: “The significant loss of the Nimrod fleet and all the associated RAF personnel from Kinloss just a few years ago was a huge blow for the local economy, especially around Forres.
“When RAF Lossiemouth was under threat, an effective task force was formed to campaign against any base closure and make contingency plans for the worst scenarios.
“The SNP group believes that a task force must be set up again, involving both the public and private sector, to make the case for the retention of Kinloss and to make sure we are in a position to deal with whatever decisions are thrown at us.”
Mr Coull said he expected a plan of action to be unveiled at a meeting of the full council in Elgin this morning.
Defence chiefs credited a huge public campaign with persuading them into a U-turn on closing RAF Lossiemouth in 2011.
