Planners who voted for two supermarkets in Sandwich “have no backbone” and were being tactical, a resident has claimed.

The woman, who lives in Dover Road, did not want to be named, but claims councillors deliberately passed the decision to Secretary of State, Eric Pickles - a move that will waste public money.

She said: “I attended the planning meeting and I was completely disgusted and appalled at how the meeting was conducted and the behaviour of some of the councillors.

“I just feel it was a tactical vote. It definitely will get called in to the Secretary of State and then they’re wasting money.

“Basically we were ignored. It feels like they haven’t listened to what residents want.”

The meeting failed to mention that the Waitrose store received 80% positive feedback from residents in a survey.

She added: “Do we not count? Sandwich Town Council and Sandwich Chamber of Commerce don’t want this town to prosper, they don’t support resident’s wishes. It should have been clear-cut due to the amount of support for Waitrose.”

She said the meeting was a complete mess and it was not chaired properly, “all because our elected councillors failed to have the backbone to make a decision based on the recommendation they were presented with,” she said.

But Sandwich councillor Paul Carter deemed the process a complete success.

He said: “I think it is a very positive move forward for the town and district.

“The speakers’ subjective concerns show that the public have been included and have responded well. This is a great advancement for Sandwich and it’s shoppers.”

One of the committee members who helped make the decision, Cllr Peter Wallace said: “We decided both stores would attract people to the area, as well as encourage the people of Sandwich to shop in their own town, rather than going to Canterbury, Margate or elsewhere.”

The Waitrose store on Dover Road and the Sainsbury's at Discovery Park have both been approved by planners but Eric Pickles could have the final say.

Chairman of Sandwich Town Team, Cllr Sue Laslett expressed her confusion over the decision, she said: “This is despite their own consultant’s report warning that “the level of trading impact from the two stores would result in a loss of trade from the town centre in excess of £5.2 million, a trading impact of over 55%”.

“The report also says: “this level of impact would result in store closures and a significant fall in the vitality and viability of the town centre”.

She added: “Does this decision make any sense at all?”

For more reactions on the news see this week's Sandwich edition of the East Kent Mercury.