Dozens of residents gathered to air their concerns last night about plans for a new convenience store off a busy road in Norwich.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has submitted plans to Norwich City Council for a Local store at the site of Rush Lighting in Sprowston Road.

Around 30 residents met at the nearby Heath House pub to find out more about the scheme and to express their fears over the impact.

Concerns have been raised about extra traffic that could be generated by the planned store, which would result in demolition of the building at 195-197 Sprowston Road – on the junction of Gertrude Road – and the creation of the shop and two flats.

A petition organised by the manager of the Premier convenience store, opposite the site, has generated more than 250 signatures in a week and objectors say there are already too many food stores in the area.

People wishing to comment on the plans have been urged to write to the city council by May 17.

Kevin Barker, of Silver Road, a Labour city councillor, said there was a lot of concern about the proposals.

'It is a four-way junction and there is lots of commuter traffic that uses Sprowston Road. It is one of the main roads into the city and there is a bus route down Gertrude Road. It is too much traffic and it is a very dangerous area,' he said.

Julie Turney, of Gertrude Road, said she was concerned about how delivery vans would access the site.

'It will be an absolute nightmare if it gets built. We have a shop across the road that is open from 7am to 9.30pm and we do not need one that will be open from 7am to 11pm,' she said.

An application was submitted to the city council last month.

The applicants say it would employ 20 people and offer four car parking spaces.