A £20 million redevelopment of Worthing College could be about to take a long-awaited step forward.
For months, little was heard of the controversial plans to build an Asda superstore at the college's Bolsover Road site in Maybridge, Worthing.
However, college principal John Robinson is hopeful revised plans will finally go before borough planners early in the New Year.
In February this year, planning proposals were submitted to Worthing Borough Council with the aim of revitalising the college's academic and sporting facilities.
The college had planned to erect a three-storey building, a sports hall and another artificial pitch at Worthing Leisure Centre.
In exchange for funding, the multi-million pound scheme, retail giant Asda would get about half the college's land to build a supermarket.
Nearby residents objected to the scheme, fearing a large superstore would cause traffic chaos, pollution and youth crime problems. Local shops thought it would force them out of business.
Conservative councillor John Livermore blamed his party's defeat in May's local elections on the backlash the plans provoked.
In July, the newly-formed Field Place Area Residents Association (FPARA) gave the council a 1,300-strong petition objecting to the proposals. This was soon followed by the council's executive ending talks on council land being used for college sporting facilities.
That meant further delays before the college's building application could go before planners for consideration.
College principal John Robinson said the Highways Agency had been looking into resolving any traffic problems the development could cause.
When their work is finished, the application will come back to borough planners for public consultation.
Mr Robinson said: "The application is very much alive and kicking and proceeding forward but more slowly than we had thought.
"There is a sense of frustration about the whole thing but we all understand it is a big project and these things do take time.
"Everyone is confident this new road arrangement will be workable and going out to consultation again is better than rushing it.
"Asda and the college are still determined to pursue this. It is in no one's interest - Asda's, the college's or local residents' - to put in a development that will cause all sorts of traffic problems."
Mr Robinson stressed the importance of Sport England's view of the development plans and whether they were beneficial to the area.
The college has been negotiating with other landowners in the town to host off-site sports grounds.
Mr Robinson said: "We were in an advanced state of negotiating with the council for the development of sports facilities at the leisure centre and at Palatine Park.
"The council suspended these discussions and is revising its whole leisure strategy. That has definitely slowed things. We are looking at alternatives for locating our sports facilities."
He added that discussions with other land-owners were progressing well. He hopes the college's plans can come before planners in January, nearly a year after they were submitted.
However, FPARA co-founder Alison Cornell said homeowners were determined to fight the plans that could lead to over-development in the area.
She said: "There is not, and never has been, a need to develop a superstore in the middle of this residential community. Field Place is a peaceful community, served by good local shops.
"If this proposal was to be granted permission, the community would be destroyed by the traffic and environmental problems and the almost complete loss of the Strand shopping parade."
She complained there had been a lack of consultation from Asda, the college and the council and was sceptical about any council attempts to ease potential traffic difficulties.
She said: "Residents do not want traffic calming - they do not want the traffic.
"At present we are being well advised by major planning consultants - we do not intend to lose this battle."
Asda spokesman Mark Brown said the company had tried to keep town residents informed of any developments by posting leaflets to thousands of homes.
He said: "In terms of consultation, we distributed a leaflet and held a three-day exhibition. There will be further opportunities for local residents to make their views known.
"We have thought to keep people up to speed on how things are moving forward.
A couple of months ago, we sent 145,000 updated leaflets explaining where we were with the proposals and how residents could comment.
"We are absolutely confident the revised road plans will be able to address traffic problems."
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