THE PETERSFIELD Society has been brutally cutting about a proposed barber’s shop sign, calling it an “affront to Petersfield.”

In a detailed report to South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) planners, the society also calls it “insensitive, brash, banal, vulgar and tasteless”.

If the sign is approved, it will replace the fascia sign on the Golden Scissors Turkish barbers opposite the war memorial in High Street.

The existing sign was first revealed when the barbers opened last November, but it didn’t have planning permission, and provoked comment and criticism.

So now Yolcu Huseyin has applied for permission to replace it with a new-look sign above the barbers in the Grade II listed building.

But his application has angered the society, which said: “The application has little or no respect for planning procedure.

“And the proposal shows no respect for the building, no respect for neighbours, no respect for its important location, no respect for the conservation area, no respect for Petersfield and no respect for the community.

“In short, it has no place in the town. It should be refused outright.”

A spokesman for Mr Huseyin said: “He wasn’t aware he needed permission for the original sign and has now applied for retrospective permission for a sign of a totally different design.

“The new design is more sympathetic to the surroundings and if it is approved it will replace the existing sign.”

The application can be seen on the SDNPA planning website at: www.south downs.gov.uk/planning/pla nning-applications search for SDNP/17/05566/LIS