Locals in England's longest village are embroiled in heated row with their local council - over the removal of an "iconic" toilet block."

Parish councillors in Meopham, Kent last month voted to remove a loo facility built in the 1950s - a decision residents have labelled a "scandal"."

They say the village - which measures seven miles in length - needs the bogs, for walkers and visiting delivery drivers to use.

More than 30 villagers rallied at the toilets to protest the Meopham Parish Council's decision on Friday (January 24).

James Ferrin, who organised the meet, says the council was acting as an "autocratic dictatorship" because it has ignored a public poll in favour of the toilets remaining open."

The 47-year-old said: "There is massive public support about keeping these toilets open as you've seen from the amount of people that showed up today."

"The council is not listening to what the people want which is the toilet reopened. "

"The community needs the toilets as people walk in the area and the delivery drivers who might need the loo."

"I would rather them have access to the toilets than urinate up my wall."

At the vote in June, attended by 605 people, 569 supported reopening the toilets, and 35 opposed it.

However, Councillors went against public opinion and agreed to demolish the loos- claiming they "aren't well used" and would require over £50,000 in renovations."

The authority are now investigating plans to open a new single-unit unisex accessible toilet in their place.

They say this new toilet will reduce operating costs and meet modern accessibility requirements but could cost between £20,000 and £30,000.

Max Bramer, 76, who has lived in the village for more than 40 years, says knocking down the loos just to build a new one is "nonsense"."

He added: "It says there is no access for disabled people but there is a disabled toilet at the back of the building."

"The reports say there are only two entrances when there are three. It is rubbish."

Ian Cleary, who has lived in Meopham for 27 years says he is prepared to fight against the closure of what he calls the "iconic" toilets."

The 59-year-old former firefighter said: "It serves our parish and probably more importantly it serves visitors to our parish."

"They're spending money in our community, they're using our pubs, they're using our coffee shops so we need to provide these facilities."

"We are going to fight this and we're going to fight it all the way. It is a scandal that they want to knock it down."

David Rose, who has lived in Hadley Close for 38 years, believes it could cost more to knock it down than carry out the refurbishments.

The 73-year-old former senior production manager said: "All the money that has been spent on the matter could have been put into carrying out the work."

"Plus people do not want a unisex toilet, especially older women."

Litter pickers from Culverstone, Lesley Cawsely and Sherly Butler, both 67, say they both frequently use the loos and want them reopened.

Lesley said: "We are quite upset about the toilets because sometimes we need to go and it is vital not just for us but for everyone else who walks in the area."

Council clerk and financial officer, Lisa Winter, says the council "refutes" the claims it is an "autocratic leadership" as its decisions have been voted on by councillors."

Lisa said that the authority is also "greatly concerned" by "unacceptable comments" made during public meetings and on social media that have been made against the council's chairman."

She said: "We respect, residents are entitled to their opinions on local issues, but we do not accept that personal slurs need to be made against individuals, especially given that all councillors are volunteers who give their time freely for the good of the community."