Roadworks agreed more than 30 years ago are to be abandoned because no one can remember exactly why they were wanted.

Councillors agreed to widen part of John Street and neighbouring Carlton Hill in Brighton in 1970. But the plans were produced so long ago that no one in the town hall can remember what they were for, although it is believed it was largely to take the increased traffic forecast for the area.

All the records have gone but the council ruling still stands.

Alan McCarthy, Brighton and Hove City Council environment director, said: "It seems likely to have been associated with housing development in the area."

Known as the Carlton Hill improvement, the scheme was shelved indefinitely in 1972 when the Homes Before Roads campaign started to get going in Brighton.

Mr McCarthy said: "Because it has not been formally abandoned, it is still declared in local searches even though there has not been any intention of building it.

"There is no detailed design for the scheme and it is not listed in the Local Plan, the capital programme or the local transport plan.

"The adoption in recent years of sustainable transport policies makes it even less likely that this scheme would be built in the foreseeable future."

The road widening proposals did not cause any problems until the summer when councillors approved a scheme for housing near the junction of Carlton Hill and John Street.

It was subject to a legal agreement that included abandoning the widening scheme because part of the land was required for the development.

An environment meeting on Tuesday is expected to agree the scheme should be abandoned.