The votes are in and a staggering 75% of you would prefer to have a new design for the town’s sign.

In December we asked for your view on the Welcome to Faversham plaques which sit at entrances to the town, after a debate broke out between councillors.

After one of the traditional ones were stolen from Graveney Road, Faversham artist Hugh Ribbans mocked up a new design to welcome visitors and residents, presented to the council by Cllr Ted Wilcox (Con) last month.

But replacing all the signs in London Road, Ashford Road and Canterbury Road would set the council back by about £7,000 – a price which many of the councillors couldn’t face when they made a decision not to pursue it.

But the Faversham News said that the discussion shouldn’t stop in the hands of the council…and we put it to the vote on our sister site KentOnline.

A whopping 136 voters said they preferred the new, with just 46 hoping to retain the old.

Mr Ribbans had given the original style a contemporary twist but in keeping with tradition, he had included images of the historical barges, Guildhall and St Mary’s Church.

"The point is, surely, that something like this is an opportunity for public involvement, rather than the town council making an instant decision" - Hilary Whelan

Many people felt strongly about the future of the town sign and took to social media to air their views:

India Whitehead posted: “Why not leave the sign as it is and give the money to a much more worthy cause like the Faversham food bank? It is just a sign after all.”

But Sam Reed said: “The new one looks better and gives a better representation of the town.”

Others agreed with the Faversham News that the public should decide. Hilary Whelan said: “I like the new design, but it doesn’t have to be one or the other – the point is, surely, that something like this is an opportunity for public involvement, rather than the town council making an instant decision – we have a lot of talented people out there who may have even better ideas.”

At the time of the council meeting, Cllr David Simmons said he had been in touch with a firm in Ashford which would make a replica to replace the stolen sign, costing the council as little as £500.

Despite mixed views, members made a decision to scrap the new signs and investigate the restoration of the originals.

Cllr Ted Wilcox said this week: “We will have to wait another six months now before we can bring this up again with the town council, but I definitely will be when I can.

“I am still personally in favour of looking at something more modern.

“If a lot of people are in favour of it as well, we need to look at the proposal again.”