A supermarket giant’s revised plans for a controversial new Tesco were greeted with a mixed reception at the first round of consultation.

The store’s original bid for a development in Tolworth in April last year were eventually dropped in the face of opposition from residents and Surbiton and Kingston MP Edward Davey, who set up protest website everylittlehurts.co.uk.

Criticism hinged on the potential influx of traffic and the loss of land for affordable housing.

At a public exhibition on November 26 and 27 the store revealed its new plans were half the size of the last proposal with the creation of about 250 jobs.

The plans also showed it would provide a 4.2 acre residential community with about 250 homes, a food store, gym and a hotel.

The company argue the development would strengthen Tolworth’s position as a shopping destination, improve connections across Tolworth roundabout and attract new retailers.

However Mr Davey, who is Minister for Employment Relations, said: “It looks like Tesco has still not got the message – we don’t want a superstore on this site.

“This new plan has the same basic flaws as the last two – it would break the council’s plan for this site and it would result in much more traffic on a road system that is already congested.

"As the council plan shows, we do need new housing for local families and we do need some real community benefit from this site and it is time Tesco understood that.”

Tesco’s regeneration arm Spenhill held the public exhibition of the plans in Your Move estate agents, Tolworth Broadway.

Joy Pollard, who attended the exhibition, was optimistic about the plans.

She said: “I hope it goes ahead. We need investment that will draw more people to the area. I’ve lived here for 10 years and haven’t seen any improvements.”

But many traders and residents have met the scheme with suspicion, convinced it would steal business from the smaller shops on the Broadway, and spark traffic chaos in the area.

More than 300 people attended the exhibition and about 100 left written comments, which will be used to shape the plans and the next stage of the consultation.

Jonathan Simpson, a spokesman for Spenhill, said: “We had a lot of questions on our proposals and will now do our best to incorporate many of the helpful suggestions made by people.

"We also received a lot of supportive comments from both residents and traders, many of whom are keen to see the additional footfall that the scheme will bring to Tolworth Broadway.”