HIGHLAND Council wants the Government to protect sensitive communities, such as Knoydart, from speculative purchases by foreign or absentee landlords by giving such areas a special designation that requires much closer scrutiny of offers and takes into account community aspirations.

Feelings are running high on the issue following the news that two of Knoydart's new owners are Mr Charles Harrison, finance director of the Facia retailing empire which collapsed with debts of over #100m, and Mr Stephen Hinchliffe, Facia's chairman. Both are being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office for their stewardship of Facia, and the Department of Trade and Industry for the

collapse of another company.

Their arrival follows five years of uncertainty for Knoydart under the ownership of the financially troubled jute company Titaghur and its controversial chairman, Mr Reg Brealey.

In its response to the Government's Land Reform consultation paper, the council recommends the creation of Sites of Special Community Interest. Within these, communities should get rights of pre-emption or first refusal when the land is put on the market.

It also calls for prospective private purchasers to be subject to an audit, similar to the rigorous checks made on crofters.

The council states: ''They key issue surrounding ownership is the use to which land is put and the uses which are thereby denied. Very often it is with foreign or absentee landlords that problems arise, because their reasons for owning the land are more likely to be at variance with, or in ignorance of, local needs and aspirations.

''There is a case for seeking measures which would maximise the local residency of significant land owners, and to ensure that absentee or foreign landowners are in genuine partnership with local people.

''Land ownership would be far less attractive to unsuitable landlords if appropriate responsibilities, liabilities and accountability attached to the purchase and

continued ownership of land.''