Six firms are interested in the development of a supermarket on the Fishguard Junior School site.

They are left in the running after a preliminary round eliminated other potential developers.

Tenders must be in by October 31st, Pembrokeshire County Council's director of development, Roger Barrett-Evans, told a meeting of Fishguard and Goodwick Chamber of Trade last week.

The bids will be very complex as various options have been put forward.

One is to buy the old school site and build a supermarket, with the proceeds going towards the provision of a new school.

"Two firms have also said they would be interested in building the new school themselves. This has been done by Tesco in North Wales," said Mr Barrett-Evans The developer would also have to provide an entrance road which would link with a proposed new circular road system for the town. The Welsh Assembly is providing £1.5million towards this scheme, with another £1million to widen pavements.

"The new road system would create a one way traffic system in West Street and would dramatically improve the Market Square," said Mr Barrett-Evans.

"Buses would also work out of the supermarket site, once the scheme is totally completed."

Developers could also have the option of buying the old library site which will become surplus once the library moves to the newly refurbished town hall at the end of March. And there is the choice of buying the infant school site for residential development.

With so many options, it's not surprising that it will take at least six week to evaluate and clarify them.

Mr Barrett-Evans said: "Of the six interested parties, some are supermarket companies, some are developers.

"But if they are developers, then they must name the end user when they are tendering. We are not committed to the highest bidder, but the one that will be best for the town.

He added: "At the moment we are on target for the opening of the new school by the end of 2008, early 2009."