FURIOUS homeowners, who have lost a long-running battle with developers, are threatening to withdraw their council tax payments in protest.

Holbury residents believed they were winning their fight for the last three years but they have been defeated at the last hurdle.

Foreman Homes has been so determined to build a handful of houses on backyards. It lodged four planning applications and taken its plans to appeal on two occasions.

Foreman's proposals have decreased from 15 houses to 11 and they have now been given the go-ahead by New Forest District Council after the company addressed all the previous concerns from the council and planning inspector.

But the neighbours in Renda Road, Williams Close and Springfield Avenue are incandescent with rage. They are claiming they will lose the peace and privacy of their gardens.

Gill Sworn, of Renda Road, has led their campaign. She said: "To say I am outraged is an absolute understatement.

"We purchased this property because it was a bungalow with long gardens all around, a beautiful outlook and very quiet.

"This is now going to be destroyed by a development which is not in keeping with the surrounding area."

Gill, a housewife, told the Daily Echo she is asking the district council for a reduction in her council tax and will be urging her neighbours to do the same.

"If I do not receive this, I will not pay it," she said. "Why should I? My surroundings and my property are going to be totally invaded. I am devastated."

Steve Carrington, planning director at Foreman Homes, said: "We are very proud of the scheme we have got now.

"We were given a strong steer by the previous planning inspector who said the part of the site that backs on to Williams Close does not overlook or overshadow.

"The other side of the site caused some concern, so we have swapped all the houses there for bungalows.

"All we can do is offer to work with the neighbours to alleviate any concerns they have."

Work is due to start next spring. The development will comprise five bungalows, two pairs of semi-detached houses and two detached houses.