A Parking action group has said plans to give drivers an extra three minutes' grace before they are issued a ticket do not go far enough.

Steve Percy, chairman of the People's Parking Protest, welcomed a proposed relaxation in rules for drivers parked illegally on yellow lines.

But he said the new rules should also apply to motorists parked in bays who can be fined instantly if their permit or voucher has expired.

If the proposals are passed by Brighton and Hove City Council at today's environment committee meeting, the change would come into effect immediately.

Parking attendants would have to wait for five minutes instead of two before issuing a £60 penalty charge notice to drivers parked on yellow lines. The extra time would allow them to get back to their vehicles after making deliveries.

The policy for drivers with an out-of-date voucher, who are allowed 15 minutes to buy a voucher or five minutes to buy a ticket, would stay the same.

Mr Percy said: "The rethink should improve the relationship between parking attendants and the public but it has not gone far enough.

"If you break the law by parking on yellow lines and get an extra three minutes it is not fair on people who have paid to park in a bay and don't get an extra time when their voucher runs out.

"I would strongly suggest the council also applies the extra time limit to them."

The changes could cost the council more than £1 million but senior councillors have said it is a price worth paying to restore the reputation of the city's parking system and soften the image of parking attendants who have reported a growing number of physical and verbal attacks.

About 30,000 of the 167,707 tickets issued in 2003 were given for overstaying less than five minutes. If all had been paid within 14 days at a charge of £30 the proposed changes would have saved drivers £900,000.

The city's 50 parking attendants are expected to issue 172,000 tickets, bringing in £5.9 million, in the next year.

A spokeswoman for the city council defended the proposed changes.

She said: "Once a ticket or voucher has been purchased people know how long they have in the parking space so are expected to return to their vehicle in good time.

"We recognise that occasionally there are unforeseen circumstances that result in vehicles not being removed on time such as emergencies or vehicle breakdown.

"When penalty charge notices have been issued as long as the driver can produce evidence to prove what happened the penalty will be quashed.

"The council is not planning to review this part of the policy at present but we are always open to suggestions."