SUPERMARKET giant Tesco now appears to be the front runner in Minehead's retail future after district councillors handed the brief for the Vulcan Road site to Chelverton Developments. The firm is known to have put forward a number of schemes to West Somerset Council, the largest of which involved supermarket giant Tesco. Other options in the melting pot from the three contract contenders - Chelverton, David McLean and Henry Boot - included a 'budget' hotel complex, multi-storey car park and various retail stores. But councillors at last Friday's West Somerset Council meeting were consistently told they were merely choosing a developer to work with the authority, rather than a specific scheme for the site. They were asked to pick from a list of three contenders who were merely referred to as developer "A, B and C". An attempt By Cllr Jess Griffith to stave off the sale of the car park altogether failed to gain support from the Tory majority. She said: "I can't believe we're here again, making the same decision but for less money. "This could be the last real chance to do the right thing. There are many options for the regeneration of Minehead and West Somerset which have been swept aside. "I propose we do not choose any of the three but consider all the options, including not selling the whole of Vulcan Road . . . and redeveloping the town centre." Cllr David Gliddon told the meeting he was aware the authority had received what senior officers referred to as an "unsolicited bid" for part of the site which was worth 50 per cent more per acre than what was officially being considered by councillors. Deputy chief executive Rod Latham did not confirm the claim but said he did not believe the council was under any obligation to take the bid into account. The offer was believed to have been from Lidl supermarket for some £3.2 million for a third of the site. The most basic scheme put before the authority by the three official contenders is likely to realise between £3 and £4 million for the entire Vulcan Road site. Consequently, the authority may find itself opting for a larger project in order to generate more money. The Aquasplash site alongside the existing Tesco supermarket will also eventually go under the hammer. Figures being touted at the moment suggest it could fetch around £3 million, while another plot of land off Seaward Way will also be sold off. A briefing paper to Friday's meeting appeared to steer councillors towards picking Chelverton Developments as the company gave a detailed presentation, was offering a non-returnable deposit and would share the "gross development value" of the site with the council. Council leader Cllr Christine Lawrence described Chelverton Developments as "visionary about the future". She said: "The decision to sell Vulcan Road was made many months ago and we are here to deliver that decision. "I would propose developer A [Chelverton Developments] to be the preferred developer to work with us to decide what goes on the site and that they offer to the public a full consultation as soon as possible." But opposition member Cllr David Banks said: "This all sounds very simple but developers are like doctors, they tend to specialise in certain fields. "By choosing A, B or C we are choosing the direction for that bit of land. "That land is too valuable to rush off, with blinkers down, on a pre-set road." Cllr Keith Ross called for developer B - believed to be Henry Boot - to be given the contract as the firm had offered more alternative uses for the site, particularly much needed workspace for local businesses. But Cllr Roger Webber said: "It's for us to debate what's best for that site as a council." Cllr Bryan Leaker added: "We're only deciding who we are working with, we are not deciding what is going on the site. "Whoever is chosen, we should have a cross-party grouping of councillors to work with a developer to ensure there is no negative effect on the town centre." Cllr Hugh Davies accused members of the ruling Tory group of pre-determining the outcome of the meeting by discussing which developer to choose at the Conservative group meeting earlier in the week. "We as backbenchers will simply be out-voted," he said. Cllr Martyn Snell added: "One of the problems about being in this corner [not a member of the ruling group] is that I feel shut out. "You know what's going on. We're just kept in the dark and fed on mushroom compost." Cllr Lawrence assured councillors they would all be able to have an input into the future of the site. She said: "Developer A will come to us and we can all be involved and have some input. "We have to work with somebody who can guide us. We can't do it on our own."