Furious residents have consulted lawyers after council officers backed new parking restrictions despite mass-opposition.

Opponents of proposed parking restrictions north of Preston Park Station say recommendations for a controlled parking zone are “undemocratic” with 70% of residents opposing the scheme in a public consultation.

Lawyers representing ConsultUs, a residents group set up to seek better consultation on any new parking zone, have warned Brighton and Hove City Council about proceeding with the scheme.

James Thompson, of ConsultUs, said: “The council’s own guidelines state that parking schemes will only go ahead if there is a majority of respondents in favour. To proceed with this scheme would be fundamentally undemocratic.

“Our lawyers have written to the council to point out that proceeding with the scheme would be a breach of the council’s own guidelines and therefore unlawful”.

Last month results of a second consultation on a Monday-to-Friday paid- permit and pay-and-display scheme showed 141 objections (70%) and 62 people in favour (30%).

The roads affected are: Maldon Road, Matlock Road, Tivoli Crescent North and Tivoli Road.

Angela Moore, of Tivoli Road, said: “It would seem that officers are breaking with council policy regarding what constitutes a majority.

“I find it unbelievable that quiet residential areas like ours, so far out of the centre of Brighton, should be forced to have a parking scheme at all. One might be excused for thinking it is a money- making exercise.

"One thing that it is, though, is divisive and disruptive, setting neighbour on neighbour with upsetting results. This is not the Brighton that I have known, loved and lived in for nearly 60 years, and I blame the council and its officers.”

Doris Levinson, of Tivoli Crescent North, said: “In the council’s consultation document it states they would replace the white lines across peoples’ driveways with double yellow lines.

“This amounts to stealing. I paid the council, not only for the crossover to my driveway, but for a white line as well. How unfair and undemocratic is the fact that they intend to take away what is legally paid for and institute punitive double yellow lines?”

Ruth Keynes, of Maldon Road, added: “Clearly, this scheme is only about raising revenue and the council will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “All views and repre¬ sentations made during the consultation have been carefully considered and a decision as to the way forward will be taken by councillors at next Tuesday’s committee meeting.”

A decision on the proposals will be made at an environment, transport and sustainability committee meeting at 4pm today.