A Church of England judge has urged St Paul's Church in Blackpool to consider relocating their planned unisex toilets following complaints from neighbouring residents.
The dispute centres around noise from the church's toilets which adjoin a neighbouring property on Egerton Road, North Shore.
Residents claim they can hear unpleasant sounds including urination, flushing and door slamming through the walls.
The disturbance has reportedly forced the neighbours to abandon their living room entirely.
A Church of England judge has urged St Paul's Church in Blackpool to consider relocating their planned unisex toilets following complaints from neighbouring residents
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David Hodge KC, Chancellor of the Diocese of Blackburn, acting as judge in the Church of England Consistory Court, has recommended moving the toilets to avoid further disturbing the neighbours.
In his ruling, he invoked the biblical commandment to "love thy neighbour as oneself," noting it had "particular resonance in the present case."
The neighbours detailed their complaints in a letter, explaining: "Every time the toilets are used, the doors slam shut loudly, causing a thumping effect that vibrates through my entire house."
They described being "regularly subjected to the sound of flushing, door slamming, and other unpleasant noises emanating from the toilet area."
The situation has deteriorated as the church has become more active during evenings.
"This disturbance has escalated to the point where my family and I have stopped using our living room altogether," the resident wrote.
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The noise isn't confined to one room but "echoes throughout the downstairs and upstairs rooms that adjoin the property."
The neighbours expressed concern that converting to unisex facilities would increase usage and "exacerbate the issues we are currently experiencing."
They believe the changes would have "a detrimental impact on our quality of life" without proper noise insulation.
The Rev Deborah Prest and church wardens had sought court approval to renovate the existing toilet facilities at St Paul's Church.
Their plans involved converting the women's toilets into unisex facilities while turning the men's toilets in another area into an office.
The current toilets date from the mid-20th century and had fallen into significant disrepair.
Church officials described "tiles falling off the ceilings and the plaster around the windows falling out."
The modernisation plans were submitted in September last year as part of efforts to update the outdated facilities.
The church had applied to the Diocese of Blackburn for permission to proceed with these renovations.
The dispute emerged after neighbours became aware of the plans to replace existing lavatories with gender-neutral facilities.
The row eventually required intervention from the Diocese, which ordered the church to address the "nuisance" caused to neighbouring properties.
Residents expressed concern that converting the facilities to unisex toilets would 'only exacerbate the issues we are currently experiencing' due to increased usage (Stock)
GETTYThe judge suggested: "I would invite the petitioners to consider whether they can accommodate their neighbours' concerns by reversing the locations."
This would mean placing the new office, rather than the toilets, against the party wall adjoining the neighbouring property.
“The second of the two great commandments to love one’s neighbour as oneself has a particular resonance in the present case," the Judge added.
Despite the recommendation, the judge did grant approval for the church's proposed changes.
However, he strongly urged St Paul's to consider switching the locations of the toilets and office.
