PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS1130) – She calls it torture. A woman who lives behind a new church in Port Coquitlam is one of a number of people frustrated by the noise created by the church bells.

“I call it a gong show when all three bells are going off,” says Wendy McHaffie, who is annoyed not only that the largest bells go off three times a day, seven days a week, but also by the sheer volume.

“I’ve heard bells in England. I’ve heard the bells at Holy Rosary Cathedral downtown. These are not pleasant bells. They are out of tune. They register at 80 decibels at my home,” insists McHaffie.

The larger bells were installed at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic church on Shaughnessy Street this year. The church itself was opened late last year.

McHaffie says the church has modified its bell ringing after many neighbours complained. But she feels it’s not enough.

“I don’t think we should be tortured by these bells, and it is torture,” she contends. “When company comes, the conversation stops. It has to start again after two minutes, when the bells have stopped.”

Neighbours have approached city hall hoping it will get the parish to trim the bell schedule.