TESCO is set to ditch its plan to build a superstore on the Northgate site, according to a statement issued following secret talks on the long-running proposal.

But confusion surrounds the deal after contradictory reports were released by Somerset County Council.

A ‘key decision’ report published on December 23 revealed that months of meetings behind closed doors between Tesco and Somerset County and Sedgemoor District councils had boiled down to a decision by Tesco to abandon its plan to build on the former Splash site.

The report detailed how the councils had negotiated a compensation package from Tesco for ‘full and final settlement’ as the company “now wishes to withdraw”

from the agreement to build.

The payoff needs approval of all three parties but the document said “the matter has already been considered once by the Tesco Board prior to formally making the offer to the councils, so it is anticipated that formal approval will be granted”.

It said that at its meeting to be held on January 8, county councillors will be asked to take a decision to “accept the offer made by Tesco to make a payment to the council to terminate the development agreement”.

It also said that Sedgemoor has already accepted Tesco’s offer at a secret meeting on December 17.

However Sedgemoor District Council reacted with fury after the document was uploaded to the county council’s website and insists that no such payment has been agreed.

The county council immediately removed the report from its website and published an edited version.

That states that on January 8, councillors will decide whether to “conclude negotiations with Tesco Stores Ltd to terminate the development agreement”.

The county council said the document was changed to “more accurately reflect the current position which is to conclude the on-going negotiations”

and “to correct the reference to Sedgemoor District Council’s consideration of the matter”.

A spokesperson for Sedgemoor told the Mercury: “There has been a misunderstanding in terminology.

“At the Sedgemoor District Council meeting on December 17, a corporate director was given instruction to carry on negotiations.

“As no formal offer has been made, it is impossible for any party to have accepted.”

In response to the confusion, a joint statement from Somerset County and Sedgemoor District councils was issued.

It read: “Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council have been in discussions with Tesco Stores Ltd about the way forward with regards the Northgate site.

“Both councils now need to conclude those discussions.

“Earlier this month, Sedgemoor District Council authorised its officers to conclude the discussions.

“The county council officer key decision scheduled for January is to authorise its officers to do the same.”

Sedgemoor councillors remain bound by confidentiality due to the commercially- sensitive nature of the meetings.

The Northgate regeneration project was started in 2004 as the councils sought to regenerate the area while also generating cash through the sale of the land that is jointly owned by both councils.

August 2009 saw the much-loved Sedgemoor Splash close, ready for demolition, and in January 2011 councils entered into a development agreement with Tesco for the sale of the site.

This September a district council meeting was held behind closed doors amid speculation that the project was on the verge of collapse.

Somerset Labour’s Andy Lewis said: “If the withdrawal deal goes through – and it seems almost certain that it will – it will bring to an end a sorry saga that saw Bridgwater lose the Sedgemoor Splash swimming pool.

“What will now happen to the Northgate site after five wasted years is the next question.”