Protesters against a £20 million supermarket development today attacked road plans which could pave the way for building work to start.

Retail giant Asda wants to build a 45,000 sq ft supermarket in the grounds of Worthing College, in Bolsover Road, but preventing traffic problems will be crucial to whether the scheme goes ahead.

After months of studies into traffic calming by West Sussex Highways Agency and Asda, a set of proposals has been devised for public consultation.

Leaflets distributed this week show how the roundabout between The Boulevard and Shaftesbury Avenue could be replaced with traffic lights to tackle congestion and they detail three options to slow vehicles in roads near the proposed store.

But Field Place Residents Association co-founder Graham Cornell said he would be urging people not to respond to the consultation exercise because it gave the impression residents wanted a new supermarket.

He said: "Asda purports to have listened to residents. But we would like them to bring in a fourth option which says we do not want it at all.

"To pick an option implies we would like them here and want surrounding roads adjusted to suit their needs.

"We do not want them here nor the roads changed.

"Which part of go away do they not understand?"

Asda's redevelopment plans feature a new store with 500 parking bays, state-of-the-art buildings to replace the college's current ones, built in the 1960s, and new student sports facilities. Playing fields lost would be replaced at grounds around the town. Many residents have opposed the redevelopment since it was announced early last year.

They claimed the supermarket would affect quality of life in the area and put some Strand Parade traders out of business.

More than 2,000 signed a petition rejecting the scheme because it would increase pollution and congestion and attract unruly gangs of youths.

Asda's road options are aimed at targeting rat-running and include closing the bottom end of Bolsover Road except for emergency vehicles, speed humps in Bolsover Road and Melrose Avenue or the closure of Strathmore Road.

Asda spokesman Will Kitchener said more than 3,000 homes would be receiving the road plan leaflets this week and the plans will soon be on show at the council offices in Portland House, Richmond Road, Worthing.

He said: "We have gone away and done this in response to local residents' concerns.

"After the consultation is done, all that information will be passed on to Worthing Borough Council. We are just doing this to help the council make the final decision."

Mr Kitchener estimated the Asda planning application would come before Worthing's development control committee by the autumn.