COUNCILLORS who rebelled against a decision to vote themselves allowance rises are giving their extra money to good causes or not accepting them.

Gosport residents condemned the rises agreed for their borough councillors last year, while some Liberal Democrats voted against awarding themselves allowances and some Labour members abstained.

Hampshire county councillor Peter Chegwyn, pictured, who represents Gos-port, said: "Many residents were hopping mad when they heard councillors on Gosport council had voted themselves a whopping 400 per cent pay rise, with the cost met by council tax payers.

"On the county council I refused to vote for large increases in allowances for ourselves. My colleagues and I oppose big pay increases for councillors and suggest the money would be better spent on improving essential public services.

"When majority councillors have cut public services, how can they justify spending more and more on what I call perks on themselves?

"I don't take my extra allowances through the county.

"We get them automatically paid but I then pay them into a variety of charities, including groups looking after young people and welfare groups looking after minorities. Some of my county colleagues are doing the same.''

The new allowances came into force on October 1 and take into account sweeping changes in council structure, said to add to councillors' workload.

Gosport borough Liberal Democrat councillor Tessa Bloodworth said: "I'm well aware of the unrest of people about the high allowance rises for us members and I agree with that.

"Some Lib Dem members I know are not taking the full amount. On the other hand, there will be more duties coming up, so councillors do need some incentives and compensation.

"I haven't been a chairman, but that must create extra work. I had to give up some of my consultancy work to fit in the council work, so it's a difficult decision to take to decline the allowance rises.''

The payment for Gosport leader Peter Edgar rose from £3,000 to £15,000, the basic allowance rose from £1,300 to £5,000. The county council basic allowance rose from £1,600 to £10,000.

Mr Edgar said Gosport had difficulties in recruiting high-calibre members without adequate recompense.

None of the councillors would reveal the extent or target of their donations.

But Claire Coxwell, of Fareham's KIDS Family Centre for children with learning difficulties, praised the donors: "This sounds a very nice gesture by these councillors.''