Defence chiefs have rejected appeals for local talks prior to a decision being reached on the closure of the Kinloss Army Barracks.
The taskforce fighting for the future of the base has been told it will only be consulted after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has made a ruling on whether to axe it.
Defence Minister Mark Lancaster advised the group that its efforts to secure discussions before that point had been in vain.
He said: “When a decision has been made on the future of any site, the MoD will begin the process of detailed planning and necessary engagement with the stakeholders concerned.”
The snub has been branded “disgraceful” by Moray’s political leaders, and follows a study which has revealed the barracks brings the area almost £30million every year.
The mammoth sum was calculated by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) group, and presented to the taskforce during its latest meeting.
The finding follows fears that 1,000 jobs will be lost if the base is axed.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said the results of the study underlined the need for local talks before any conclusions are reached about Kinloss, and criticised the MoD for refusing to carry them out.
Mr Lochhead said: “It is now clearer than ever before that losing Kinloss Barracks would deal a severe blow to Moray, and that’s why it is disgraceful that the MoD is not committing to consultation prior to any decision.
“It’s clear that the future of Kinloss remains up in air, and the local community is quite right to keep up its campaign.”
Mr Lochhead previously revealed that more than 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Moray are dependent on the barracks.
The demise of RAF Kinloss in 2011 left a £68million hole in the region’s income.
But the relocation of the Army’s 39 Engineer Regiment to the 1,828-acre station the following year made up for some of that shortfall.
HIE began work on the economic impact assessment study last month, when it emerged that the Kinloss Army Barracks was on the chopping block as part of a huge cost-cutting initiative.
It used recent figures provided by the base to reach its findings.
The Moray Economic Partnership is leading the taskforce which has been established to highlight the case for maintaining the base.
Its chairman, John Cowe, insisted he would not relent in his crusade to organise talks with defence bosses – despite the UK Government appearing to rule the possibility out.
Mr Cowe said: “It was a huge blow to Moray when Kinloss closed as an RAF base, and it was welcome news when the government announced it would become a home for the Army.
“Its closure, against the background of an ongoing downturn in the oil and gas sector, would have a huge impact in Moray.
He added: “It is still not clear what the UK Government has in mind, and we continue to urge the MoD to deliver on its promise of consultation on the future of the site, whatever that might be.
“Surely that is the least the people of Moray can expect?”
The MoD claims that no decisions have been reached on the future of the Moray base.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell recently speculated that it was more likely to continue than the historic Fort George garrison near Inverness.
But campaigners say they will not give up their fight until defence bosses formally announce that the barracks will not be closed.
Moray MP Angus Robertson added: “At this stage, keeping the pressure on the UK Government has to be a major priority.
“We cannot make any assumptions that Kinloss is safe from closure.”
Defence chiefs snub Kinloss campaigners
