A 'DEMOCRACY problem' exists in Rixton and Woolston - that was the opinion of a man trying to win approval for an extension to his cottage.

Neil McArthur told the borough council's development control committee he could not get through to his parish council to argue his case after it objected.

He told the committee: "You are not allowed to speak at the parish council meetings and it is hard to get hold of the councillors - clearly we have got a bit of a democracy problem."

But he fared better with the borough councillors- they voted to allow him to build a conservatory and two-storey extension at his home in Rose Cottage, Dam Head Lane, Rixton.