THE rise in council tax for half a million Hampshire bill payers led to just 314 people contacting the county council.

Councillors and officers invited comments as part of the Hands off Hampshire awareness campaign whichhighlighted government plans to change the way it distributed national funds to local authorities.

Despite the campaign, government grant for the South was redistributed to the North and Midlands, while Hampshire which had the lowest grant settlement in the country, lost around £48 million over three years. It meant tax payers' bills rose by 15 per cent, to maintain services at current levels.

The majority of comments received were concerned about the size of the increase.

They included the injustice of government funds being diverted from the south, dissatisfaction with the increase above inflation and above most people's salary increases, the detrimental effect on the elderly, the young and those on fixed incomes and the deterrent effect on recruitment and retention.

Cllr Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said the majority of people had understood the need for the tax hike: "I hope that by planning for future years in this year's budget and continuing to look for efficiency improvements, we will not have to face such a large hike again."