Residents have protested against their neighbours' new extension, which they say is "robbing" them of light.

Holly Burton said that her neighbour's three-metre-high extension, in Bossington Close, Rownhams, is taller and closer to neighbours than it should be.

While some councillors said the impact on the light in Mrs Burton's home is "negligible", not all agreed.

An image of the extension (Image: Contributed) Councillor Karen Dunleavey, who went to the Burtons' home, said: "There is a shadow – not a negligible one. I think we might disagree about whether there’s a shadow."

She added: “I was shocked at how dark it was.”

The single-storey extension, built by Mr and Mrs Winner of Bossington Close, Rownhams, is three and a half metres tall, but does not follow the original plan for which permission was granted.

There was confusion among councillors over exactly how high the extension is in its current form.

Mrs Burton, who attended the committee on Tuesday evening, was given three minutes to address the council. She said: "The plans submitted by our neighbour do not accurately reflect the structure that has been built. Our family are facing a significant impact due to the unapproved construction next door."

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"These areas used to be filled with light. Our kitchen has been robbed of that light. Natural light is more than just a convenience – it’s essential for our well-being. It’s not just a strain on our eyes, it’s also a strain on our energy bills."

She added that the whole situation had left her and her family "feeling disregarded".

While some councillors sympathised with Mrs Burton, they nevertheless voted unanimously against quashing the Winners' planning permission.