More than 100 parking spaces could be lost under controversial plans to replace doorstep rubbish collection with communal bins.

Brighton and Hove City Council has approved a £200,000 trial of the new bins for 3,500 homes in some of the city's busiest squares.

The aim is to prevent people leaving rubbish bags on the street outside their homes where they are prey to foxes, seagulls and vandals.

Instead, 140 huge bins - each catering for 25 households - would be dotted around in parts of the city centre, including sites in Brunswick, Goldsmid, Regency and St Peter's wards.

On Thursday, the city's environment committee will be asked to agree to an experimental traffic order for the bins to be placed on the street.

Councillors are also being asked to consult with residents about the exact siting of the containers, which would be emptied twice a week.

Acting environment director Pat Foster said the sites would be chosen carefully to limit the number of parking spaces lost.

She said the containers were being put out in the city's bedsit belt where many residents did not have enough room to store rubbish.

Ms Foster said: "This has meant rubbish is often put out in the street well before the day of collection."

The trial, if approved, will start early in 2004 and last a year.

Ms Foster said: "Without the support of residents, the trial will not be successful."

Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Elgood said: "We have grave reservations about the scheme. It could increase rubbish problems and not solve them.

"Taking away the traditional household collection and replacing it with communal bins in the street cannot be the answer to the city's waste issue.

"This will cause a massive pile-up of dirty, rotting waste in containers which will be targets for vandals and arsonists.

"What we need to see are improvements in street cleaning and better enforcement in problem areas."

Coun Elgood, who represents Brunswick ward, added: "The council is also being naive if it thinks losing this many parking bays is acceptable to residents.

"In Brunswick we've just fought a two-year battle for an increase in resident bays. We aren't going to lose these spaces to communal bins without a big fight."