Land which is used for car parking during the games, which have been held in the burgh every August since 1864, has been earmarked for 250 homes.

The plans were revealed in the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s local development plan last week.

Scott Fraser, vice chairman of the Ballater Highland Games, said: “We have to try and stop this or it could put the whole sustainability of the games in jeopardy.”

The games committee held an emergency meeting this week to discuss the development, and what it means for the future of the event.

Mr Fraser said: “The field next to Monaltrie Park is not only used by us for car parking, but also for the Orienteering Championships.

“The Cairngorms plan does appear to give us more new open space, but the preferred access road for the housing would more than likely take up a huge chunk of that.

“We have been told the preferred route would come off Craigview Road, which would mean less traffic going into the village – and a live road going right through the middle of the games.

“It seems to be a big secret as to who the developers are – no-one is telling us anything.”

Drop-in consultation events are scheduled to take place before the public opinion deadline of April 5, with the first due to take place in Braemer village hall on Thursday February 7 between 3pm and 7pm.

Other dates include: Tomintoul Richmond hall on Monday, February 11; Eleven41 Gallery in Kingussie on February 12; The Hub in Aviemore on February 18; Ballater Station on February 19; Blair Atholl village hall on February 21 and at the CNPA office in Grantown-on-Spey on February 25.