ANGRY residents and Marlow groups have disputed officers' comments made on the Waitrose planning applications that the Local Plan "always envisaged" the size of the proposed 25,000 sq ft store.

Mike Post, of the Marlow Group, claimed comments made at the development control meeting were incorrect, and that the Local Plan never made any reference to a possible store size.

Mr Post argues: "It is not an officer's business to elect the size of the store we should have. The Local Plan does not specify any size at all."

Following investigation, the Free Press can confirm the Local Plan does not specify any store size. It states only that: "The District Wide Town Centre and Retail Policy Review has identified that an extension to the existing Waitrose Store is the preferred location."

Marlow and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce echoed Mr Post's concerns over comments made by Wycombe District Council's head of urban design, Penelope Tollitt.

A council spokesman said: "This store size allocation was supported by the Local Plan Inquiry Inspector however during the inquiry the size of the store was not directly addressed."

Meanwhile, Waitrose have remained tight-lipped over what they plan to do now their plans have been rejected. A spokesman said they were still going over comments made at the meeting last week, and were not prepared to give any early indication.

They can, however, accept the decision and do nothing, re-submit amended plans, submit new plans or even seek to overturn the decision by applying to the office of the deputy prime minister, John Prescott.