COUNCIL taxpayers are demanding to have their rates slashed after being left out of the biggest piece of New Forest history in centuries.

Residents in Lymington, Totton and Ringwood are demanding a cut in their bills after the towns were excluded from Britain's newest National Park.

Many are calling for council tax to be reduced to make amends for the fact that they will not enjoy benefits such as higher house prices and tighter development controls.

New Forest District Council bosses have indicated their overall costs will drop because of National Park status.

But they have refused to confirm whether taxpayers can expect a drop in their bills.

Totton resident Sarah Browne said: "I am disappointed that places such as Totton, Fawley, Ringwood and Lymington are being excluded from the National Park boundary and hope that our council tax will reflect this blatant shun.

"We pay New Forest District Council tax and I feel if we are not getting the benefits of the National Park status such as house price rises and less chance of development then why should we pay the same council tax as those that will benefit?"

The 34-year-old of Myrtle Avenue added: "Totton is currently the second most expensive council tax with Fawley and this makes exclusion a bitter pill to swallow."

Clive Sutton, chairman of the Lymington Society, agreed the council's drop in costs should be reflected in taxpayers' bills.

He said: "They should be passing on to the ratepayers any benefits they receive as a result of National Park grants. If their costs have been reduced there's no reason for them to continue to charge as high an amount unless they provide greater services for the council taxpayers."

Chris Malyon, director of resources for the district council, said: "The costs of the National Park are funded 100 per cent by national government not by the council taxpayer."

He said the cost of planning and development control inside the National Park would now be met by Whitehall.

Financial experts had estimated those costs at "hundreds of thousands" of pounds, he said. But the estimates had included areas like Lymington and Ringwood before it was realised they were to be left outside the boundaries.

He said: "I would never say the council tax would go down but we are hoping it (National Park status) will give us some scope that we otherwise would not have received."