The plans included the creation of a geo-thermal (underground) heat transfer plant, extensive polysheds for growing organic plants and vegetables, and the restoration of the water turbine shed, powered by the mill lade.

Dr Lindsay Neil, chairman of Selkirk's Regeneration Group, revealed this week that plans for a buy-out by a community trust and negotiations with the Norwegian-based company – the world's largest producers of farmed salmon – were at an "advanced stage" when he read about the sale in last Friday's Wee Paper.

Dr Neil said he had contacted the company later that day to see if it was, indeed, a "done deal".

"I was told the agreement with Mr Beattie was too far advanced to be changed and, indeed, the sale documents were due to be signed that afternoon," said Dr Neil.

Alan Sutherland, managing director of Marine Harvest Scotland, confirmed Dr Neil had on Friday discussed the possibility of the firm changing its mind and opting for the community buy-out and the creation of the so-called centre of renewable resources.

Dr Neil's intervention has infuriated Mr Beattie, who formed an ad hoc company "It's Cauld Ltd" with his daughter Phamie, to acquire the site for £1. He also intends bringing the water turbine back into commission.

"As far as I am concerned, Dr Neil can go to hell for trying to scupper my agreement with Marine Harvest and I intend having no future dealings with him," said Mr Beattie. "His community buy-out was half-baked and would not have solved the problem of the repairs required to Murray's Cauld which I have agreed to undertake as soon as water levels permit."

The cauld and the salmon run on the Ettrick Water were, said Mr Sutherland, the key factors in the decision to sell to Mr Beattie.

Under the deal, Mr Beattie has responsibility for the cauld.
"The cauld, after it was badly damaged, became a major liability for our company which was forced to abandon plans for a smolt-rearing facility here about eight years ago," said Mr Sutherland.

"We have taken Mr Beattie, a local man with the wherewithal to do the work, at his word when he says he will repair the cauld at the earliest opportunity.

"It is true we had detailed discussions with Dr Neil over the community buy-out plan, but he was unable to give us an undertaking over responsibility for the cauld, even when we offered him the site for nothing earlier this year. That is why we chose Mr Beattie."

Dr Neil admitted he was "stunned" to hear of the sale.

"We had been waiting to hear back from Marine Harvest, whose parent company was due to discuss the community buy-out, which has been 18 months in the preparation, at a meeting in Oslo in April," said Dr Neil.

"We knew nothing about the collusion between the company and Mr Beattie. It remains to be seen if the deal will be in the best interests of Selkirk."

Mr Beattie said he was still prepared to give over three acres of haughland next to the Ettrick for allotments "as long as Dr Neil has nothing to do with it."