The town’s regeneration officer has welcomed news that supermarket giant Asda is looking for a site on the Island.

Swale council officer Martin Goodhew said any move that brings more choice for shoppers on the Island was a good thing.

Mr Goodhew was speaking after an Asda spokesman confirmed the chain is “very keen” to open a store here.

Although the spokesman would not say where on the Island Asda was looking, he said: “While we have no firm plans at present, Asda would be very keen to open a new store on the Isle of Sheppey and will investigate potential sites that could satisfy planning and operational requirements.”

According to the spokesman, an AA Fuel Price Report produced last month shows towns in the south of England without an Asda petrol station are paying four to five pence more per litre for the cheapest petrol compared to others in the region.

Asda announced it is looking to move to Sheppey after the Competition Commission recommended a competition test should be introduced into retail planning guidance so local people can benefit from better service and competitive prices.

The spokesman added: “It is clear consumers suffer when there is a lack of supermarket choice in a local area.

"Asda has won the Grocer Award for the lowest supermarket prices for 12 years running and we would love to bring that award-winning offer to the Isle of Sheppey.”

Mr Goodhew said: “If there was competition on the Island it might be given a bit of a shake up. There are benefits.

“Hopefully, it will give Tesco the push it needs to start a price war.

“We want to keep the Sheppey pound on Sheppey and any move that does that is a good one.

“If people are going to Morrisons in Faversham or Sainsbury’s in Sittingbourne they are then going to spend their money in other shops there.

“But if people can get all their things here, whether it’s in Tesco or Asda, they are more likely to go into the other shops.”

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The news will also be welcomed by many residents who have long complained about the prices at Tesco.

A Facebook group has been set up called Stop Tesco Sheerness’ Unfair Practices.

The group, which has more than 200 members, claims Tesco in Bridge Road, pictured, charges more than stores in other areas of the county.

The Facebook group description says: “Why does Tesco Sheerness continuously get away with charging prices so high above what the same product costs in Tesco elsewhere? (Tesco Gillingham is a prime example).

“It started a long time ago with petrol and continues to this day, but it has slowly crept into the stores too over the years and Islanders shouldn’t be

taken for easy cash just because they have no real alternative.”

Many members of the group have posted messages to say they have stopped shopping at Tesco because they feel the prices are unfair.

A Tesco spokesman said Tesco has a national pricing policy in its larger stores and prices will be the same in Sheerness as they are throughout the whole of the UK.

But the spokesman added the cost of petrol is priced locally.