A CLOUD of uncertainty continues to hang over the proposed Tesco development on Northgate in Bridgwater.

After further secret talks between Sedgemoor District Council and the supermarket giant, it has been announced that more meetings need to be held before a conclusion is reached.

A spokesperson for Sedgemoor District Council added that it is hoped a decision will be reached before the end of the year.

Talks among Tesco and Sedgemoor and Somerset councils are set to roll into the coming weeks, prolonging speculation that the project to build a store at the site of the former Splash swimming pool is likely to fall through or change dramatically.

Earlier this year, Tesco’s then chief executive Philip Clarke said the company was focusing on moving away from larger stores to smaller shops, casting more doubt about the plans to build a Tesco Extra superstore on the old swimming pool site.

Last week Cllr Brian Smedley (Westover) said he expected the plans to “come crashing down” at the secret meeting held last Wednesday.

All councillors are now sworn to secrecy and cannot discuss the latest Tesco project revelation.

Following the council’s statement West Somerset Labour Party organiser Andy Lewis analysed the update online.

In a post on Somerset Labour’s website, he said: “My interpretation is that it has all gone horribly wrong.

"It doesn’t sound like a project that’s going swimmingly.

“It’s been five years since Sedgemoor Splash was knocked down.

"It seems a terrible waste just to get us to the point where Tesco and Sedgemoor Council are discussing ‘a range of options’ in the search for ‘a way forward.

"Tesco is also declining to comment on the plans but says it will update the local community at the earliest opportunity."

Local resident Bob Cudlipp was among those who opposed the original plan for the supermarket.

He said: “I’ve been an opponent of this store from the start, and thousands of us were against it.

“The traffic in Bridgwater is diabolical now so this plan with its car park for 600 cars would just add to it.

"We have three major supermarkets in the town already, plus the discount stores. Do we really need another?”