THE supermarket giant Asda says its proposals for a 45,000 sq ft store at West Hill at Dartford would create around 450 new jobs.

The company's ambitious outline plans for the site have been unveiled at a public exhibition and are due to be considered by Dartford council's planning committee in thes spring.

The plans also include more than 200 homes, of which around 40 per cent would be 'affordable' and offered to key workers.

Many small traders in the area have voiced their opposition to the proposals. They are concerned that a supermarket on the former West Hill Hospital site would affect their trade and create major traffic problems in the area.