Aberdeen Western bypass route (Scottish Executive website)

They are against a new road through the Milltimber suburb. Plans to route it through a community for people with learning difficulties were rejected.

The bypass is intended to ease congestion and officials said they were keen to hear residents' concerns.

The new group - Road Sense - will hold its first public meeting in Aberdeen on Monday night.

Residents said they were angry that the Scottish Executive's public consultation options did not include the one chosen.

Transport Minister Tavish Scott rejected the five original options in favour of a compromise route through Milltimber Brae, with a new fast link via Netherley to Stonehaven.

The bypass could cost up to �395m.

'Stupid decision'

The new Road Sense group said in a statement: "The anger, bewilderment and sheer frustration of hundreds of people around Aberdeen has led to the formation of the new group to oppose a new route for the Aberdeen bypass.

"The minister has looked at the menu of different routes prepared by the engineers, but has cooked up his own.

"Road Sense will press for all route options to be compared in a fair and objective way.

The Camphill community led a high profile campaign

"Road Sense is already assembling a team of road engineers, environmental specialists, planners and lawyers to draw attention to the flaws in Tavish Scott's route."

One Milltimber campaigner, Dave Robb, said: "We are determined to fight this stupid decision.

"There is no justification for carving through residential areas and a beautiful stretch of countryside."

The new route was announced in December, after a high-profile campaign to save the nearby Camphill community for people with learning difficulties.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Executive agency Transport Scotland told BBC Scotland: "We are aware that this group has come together.

"We are looking forward to meeting with them and hopefully allaying some of their concerns."

The meeting will be held in Milltimber's International School at 1930 GMT on Monday.