DIY chain B&Q this week denied it was involved in any negotiations to site a store on land in Minehead formerly earmarked for a new civic centre. Rumours circulating in the town suggested that the company was interested in developing the Somerset County Council-owned market/railway site, previously included in a now abandoned partnership scheme for a new library and new offices for West Somerset District Council. However, B&Q spokesman Pip Schouten told the Free Press that no negotiations were taking place and that, as far as she was aware, the company had expressed no interest in any land in Minehead. The rumour led to the action group DIRECT - which was opposed to the civic centre development and is still fighting plans to turn the district council- owned Vulcan Road car park into a retail complex - emailing county council leader Cllr Cathy Bakewell for assurances. But a county council spokesman issued a firm and categoric denial on the authority's behalf, stating: "We do not make decisions without public consultation." He went on: "We would want to squash any rumours straight away. No decision has been taken on the future of the site and we have pledged to carry out full consultation on any proposals. "We are not looking for any 'quick money' solutions." As reported in the Free Press a fortnight ago, the county council is spending £25,000 on feasibility work into developing part of the site for employment workspace, with the hope of securing European and regional funding. It has also pledged to consult with the West Somerset Railway, the local community and other key stakeholders with a view to marketing the site for tourism and community uses. The authority is also looking to identify suitable accommodation in the town centre for future library provision and is undertaking an urgent review of the options for improving the registrar facilities, which were to have been sited in the civic centre development.