Hampshire's council tax protesters had their say at a "Speakers' Corner" event at Alton on Saturday.

It was organised by Christine Melsom from the Headley branch of www.isitfair.co.uk, the national website liaison arm of protest groups starting throughout the country.

Speakers voiced their feelings about galloping levies and the "deep unfairness" of the property tax.

It was pointed out that the market revaluation of domestic housing-due to take place in 2005 and practically on the statute book in a bill now going through Parliament-will elevate most modest homes in the South to the higher taxbands.

"Unless something is done, homeowners will endure another four years of rises at 10 to 15%, as well as the continued transfer of funds from the South to the North," warned Mike Schofield, from Winchester Tax Action Group.

"Those in the South will then be hit in 2007 by a multiple whammy as their homes go up into higher taxbands."

The debate was enlivened by one speaker-apparently, a councillor-who said the audience was comprised of "the spoilt and well-off"; they didn't know how hard it was "up north", he suggested.

However, he was heckled indignantly by several pensioner couples from the north, who said they'd had it much better there.

And a southern lady denied the charge of riches-her income was £7,000 a year and her council tax bill £1,570.

The Winchester group hopes to organise a similar event-ring 01962-861277 or e-mail the Winchester group via www.isitfair.co.uk