Pavement parkers are set to be slapped with a fine of up to £70 as town hall bosses launch a crackdown on “dangerous” drivers.

After years of turning a blind eye to people illegally parking on the kerb, Brighton and Hove City Council has pledged it will start to take action in Elm Grove, Brighton.

The local authority claims the situation has got too dangerous and changes must be made for the benefit of all road users.

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But residents say the move will just add to the parking mayhem that is already crippling the area.

Lorraine Cox, 35, an accountant from  Lynton Street, said: “If they stopped people parking on Elm Grove, where would all the cars go?

“Parking is a nightmare as it is, it would only make things worse. It would force cars into Hanover and surrounding areas. It works, so don't try to fix it.”

Adam Smith, 33, an IT manager from Brading Road, said: "This is possibly another attempt to introduce money generating schemes like when they tried to bring in permits.

"Has the council taken into account the number of cars that park there and if the surrounding roads have capacity to take those cars? They will need to go somewhere which is just going to create other issues.

"Why not designate those areas on the wide pavements parking, mark them accordingly with adequate signage. If there are specific areas where these accidents occur, either restrict parking in that area and/or put barriers or suitable protection to ensure safety.

"How many of these accidents have occurred since the 20mph speed limit was introduced? The council should look at this first given the amount of cars and especially buses which don't observe it."

But the local authority claims the current set-up means that pavements are blocked with pedestrians forced to walk into the road.

The council added in the three year period between January 2010 and December 2012 there were 24 road traffic collisions in Elm Grove with 27 people being injured.

Wheelchair-bound disability campaigner Chris Kift said there needed to be a "real clampdown" on pavement parking. 

He said: "Sometimes I have to go out into the road just to get past. It's frightening.

"And it's not just disabled people, it's parents with pushchairs too."

Pete West, Brighton and Hove, chairman of the council's environment committee, said: “The situation is now becoming just too dangerous, with cars overhanging the pavements and blocking the view of both drivers and pedestrians at junctions.

“We understand that there will be some residents who have been parking in this way for some years and will be unhappy about the proposed enforcement.

“The council must consider how to balance the needs of residents against the very serious safety concerns for pedestrians and for drivers, especially around the junctions.”

Ward councillor Emma Daniel said: “I will be looking at the plans very closely.

“I do have concerns it will just push traffic into side streets in an already pressured parking area.”

Similar plans to ban pavement parking were first presented by the local authority two years ago. However, after hundreds of locals raised concerns the council shelved them.

In January, town hall officials drew up plans to creating new parking areas near the pavements. However, two-thirds of residents rejected the scheme fearing it would lead to displacement.

The reversal to the initial plan will be discussed at the council's environment, transport and sustainability committee on October 8.

If approved, warning letters will be issued on November 4 with fines issued to anyone parking on the pavements behind double yellow lines along the road two weeks later.