THE people of Knoydart are preparing to publish a clear expression of their opposition to the new owners of the 17,000-acre Knoydart estate, and state their determination to win local control of the land, but not at the #2.5m they have just been quoted.

The community-led Knoydart Foundation's bid of #800,000 was refused last year after the estate had been on the market for more than two years at an asking price of #1.5m. It is understood that the estate had been valued at #1.1m.

The foundation subsequently launched a worldwide public appeal for #1m to secure the estate. However, moves by the former owner, the financially-troubled jute company Titaghur, which had paid #1.7m to buy the estate from Surrey property developer Philip Rhodes in 1993, frustrated their efforts.

Ownership of Knoydart Peninsula Ltd (KPL), the Titaghur subsidiary which owned the estate and is reported to have debts of #1.4m, had changed before the foundation could act.

Local concerns have deepened since it emerged that Mr Stephen Hinchliffe and Mr Christopher Harrison are now behind KPL.

Both are the subject of investigation by the Serious Fraud Office and the Department of Trade and Industry. They were respectively the chairman and finance director of the Facia retailing empire which collapsed in 1996 leaving debts of more than #100m.

Mr Hinchliffe flew into Knoydart by helicopter on Thursday and left again at the weekend. But while he was there he told community leaders that if they wanted to buy the estate they should talk to him and it would cost #2.5m.

Foundation chairman and local councillor Charlie King told The Herald yesterday: ''That is the price quoted but it is quite ludicrous. There is no way the foundation is going to play the land speculators' game. That is what they are after.''

Meanwhile, a petition expressing no confidence in the new owners was launched at a meeting of the Knoydart Residents' Association in Inverie on Friday. By Saturday, 44 of the 60-strong adult population had signed it.

The petition states: ''We the undersigned have absolutely no confidence whatsoever in the ownership, shareholding or involvement of Mr Hinchliffe, Mr Harrison, Mr Turvill, Ms Hepplestone, and associates in the Knoydart Estate. Their unsuitability further confirms the need for the Knoydart Foundation to succeed.''

Association chairman Bernie Evemy said he was confident that most people would sign, not least since the only public action taken by the new owners to date has been to sack estate manager Ian Robertson who kept the estate running for the past 18 months without pay.

''Feelings in Knoydart are running very high and it is little wonder. The community seems destined to be at the mercy of businessmen from down south who give little, if any, thought to the real needs and interests of the people of Knoydart.

''Every time hopes rise that local control may be won, more businessmen appear making sweet noises but we all know that somewhere, somehow they see money or recreation in Knoydart for themselves and their weekend friends.

''Nothing the new owners have done suggests they will be any different, indeed their immediate financial history gives us every reason to be concerned.

''We met Mr Hinchliffe when he was here last week and he made clear that the buck stopped with him, that he is the power in the new ownership. He also made clear his vision for Knoydart was to have two luxury flats at the big house so that he can invite his friends up for a spot of shooting and fishing. We just feel abused and exploited, once again a rich man's plaything.''

The owners' financial history causes the greatest concern locally.

The DTI has already provided MP David Stewart with information regarding Facia and other companies.

Attempts for a comment from Mr Hinchliffe or Mr Turvill, KPL's managing director, have failed.