Moray Council has been urged to launch extensive public talks on plans to dual the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen road through the region.
The Forres A96 Dualling Action Group claims some of the routes being investigated by Transport Scotland could ravage Moray’s economy.
They have launched a crusade aimed at dissuading transport chiefs from pursuing an option which would bypass key commercial areas in Elgin and Forres.
Yesterday, Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Douglas Ross urged local authority officers to consult residents on what potential route they would most like to see used.
Mr Ross said: “People have great concerns about the lack of action from Moray Council in terms of responding to these plans.
“We need to ask communities for their views, there are a great range of issues we can consult on and I’d like to see a more proactive approach.
“There’s a concern the council will just go along with Transport Scotland’s wishes, rather than trying to influence any decisions.”
Director for economic development, Rhona Gunn, said it would not be cost-effective to consult residents on route plans at this point in the dualling project.
She explained that proposed corridors had not been significantly updated since Transport Scotland undertook public consultation events last May, and that fresh talks would fail to yield any useful feedback.
Mrs Gunn added: “It would be premature to advocate any particular road plan at this stage.
“We wouldn’t be able to supply Transport Scotland with more information than they already have, and I’m concerned about the resource implications of that.”
Transport Scotland maintains that design work is far from finalised, and several route options are under consideration.
Forres A96 Dualling Action Group chairman, Brian Higgs, said the council needed to measure public sentiment on the project before transport bosses proceed further with plans.
Mr Higgs said: “I understand this is a complex issue, and there is considerable work yet to be done on finalising the route.
“But that is why we think Moray Council should be working on it now.
“The council should be consulting businesses and residents, I’m struggling to think of anything more important than the A96 that the council should be putting resources into.”