FOR the people of Debenham it is supposed symbolise the village's links to centuries of history.However according to residents, the village green's new notice board – which looks not unlike Dr Who's time-travelling Tardis – evokes comparison with a French public lavatory.

FOR the people of Debenham it is supposed symbolise the village's links to centuries of history.

However according to residents, the village green's new notice board – which looks not unlike Dr Who's time-travelling Tardis – evokes comparison with a French public lavatory.

The dispute began when instead of buying a quaint wooden parish notice board in keeping with the 16th century architecture of Debenham, the parish council erected a £3,900 green city style pillar.

But it seems many villagers wish they could travel back through time themselves and choose something completely different.

However the council has come out fighting over the furore surrounding the notice board.

It claims the drum-style board is in a Victorian style, requested by the residents and part-funded by a grant.

However Andrew Grant Adamson, of High Street, Debenham, said: "I think it's absolutely ugly and totally inappropriate, it looks like a poorly designed pissoir (A outdoor public lavatory in France).

"I don't know about the planning situation but it completely dominates the views of what is regarded as a village centre," he added.

John Willett, of Henniker Road, Debenham agreed: "It's a waste of money. This is an olde world village. It is totally out of keeping. The taxpayer has got to pay for that."

"It's an eyesore. Some people might think it good - it would be better if it was in a better place."

David Bew, owner of a shop near to the offending structure in High Street, said: "I can't see the point of it, it's just unattractive, when they show pictures of Debenham that's the picture they show," he said of the village green. "And now there's a big monstrosity in the middle, I have tried to stop it, it's very difficult," he said.

"It's appalling, the site is so bad and it's totally out of keeping with a village of this period."

The owner of The Suffolk Table Company added that he would have been happy to make a wooden notice board for the parish council himself.

Anna Bew, his wife said: "It's more in keeping with a Parisian street."

Lynne Cockerton, clerk of Debenham Parish Council, said that the £3,900 notice board had been funded partly by the East of England Development Agency. But £2,000 of the bill had to be footed by the tax payer.

The council decided to build a new notice board after a village appraisal found that residents wanted more information back from the parish council. The old notice board is dilapidated, has notices obscured by condensation and was seen to be too small for its purpose.

Public meetings have been held to discuss this matter, which did not need planning permission, as it was on council-owned land.

Mrs Cockerton invited the public to voice their concerns at the next parish council meeting at Dove Cottage, High Street, on Thursdayat 7.30pm.

N Attractive or a blot on the landscape – What do you think about the notice board? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk