A HEADLEY resident who founded the anti-council tax campaign Isitfair, has this week further criticised Hampshire County Council (HCC) for recruiting more high salaried employees. Christine Melsom has reacted angrily to the news that the council has continued to expand, despite further rises in council tax. Mrs Melsom said: "Hampshire County Council now employs more people than the Royal Navy. "In the past year, it has recruited an extra 133 employees who earn a salary of £50,000, bringing the total of employees earning £50,000 to 453. It's horrendous." The advertisement budget for the recruitment of the new employees is thought to be in excess of £2 million. "The council is telling us that it has pulled in the reins, in terms of finance, but the fact is that it hasn't done enough. "You would expect numbers of employees to go down rather than up if it was tightening its belt," added Mrs Melsom. The Isitfair campaign was launched in 2003 following a sharp rise in council tax rates. "For many people council tax is the big bad wolf at the door, as it is such a burden. "It often rises at twice the rate of salaries and pension, leaving thousands of people struggling to pay what's due. "This situation is just not fair. For example, just imagine how many peoples' council tax bills could be paid with the £2m the council has used advertising its latest jobs." Just four years after Isitfair started, the campaign, which is still ran from Mrs Melsom's conservatory, has found support on a national basis. "I never dreamed it would take off as it did. "We initially were interviewed by The Herald, and following that article six people contacted us. "The whole process has moved on from there, really. Now, there are many thousands of members across the country, with supporters in Scotland and Wales too," said Mrs Melsom. Members of Iisitfair, travel across the country meeting government officials and council leaders, as well as giving talks to members of the public in order to promote their cause. Mrs Melsom said: "It has been a long process, but we know that people are beginning to listen to us now. "The re-evaluation of England's council tax has been delayed, something we feel proves that the individuals making decisions about the tax are listening and are well-aware of our campaign and aims. "Running the campaign is a full-time job now, and it definitely keeps everyone involved very busy, but we do have a good committee that works hard to get through everything. "We've come a long way from the start of the campaign and we're not, by any means, suggesting that there is just one solution to the problem, but there has to be a fairer way." Hampshire County Council was unavailable to comment as The Herald went to press. However, the draft account statements for the year 2006-2007 are available by visiting http://www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-index/">www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-index/ index-docs-6669.html. For more information regarding Isitfair, visit http://www.isitfair.co.uk">www.isitfair.co.uk.