Councillors have backed controversial changes to Brighton and Hove's Parking scheme.

The plan involves scrapping the eight parking zones in the city and replacing them with two larger zones, Central North and Central South.

Changes would also convert 370 free two-hours and four-hour parking bays into shared spaces which could be used by both residents and visitors, who would pay-and-display.

The 700 unpopular voucher parking spaces would be turned into either exclusive pay and display or shared spaces.

Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee last night approved the plans in principle.

Officers will now draw up a detailed design of the proposals which will then be publicly advertised in the form of a traffic order, giving people a second chance to comment before the plans go back before councillors for a final decision.

Final plans could be completed by autumn and introduced early next year.

The two larger parking zones would span from Norfolk Square to Old Steine and inland to Viaduct and Lewes Road.

The council report in front of the environment committee yesterday suggested this would make parking policy more consistent, cost effective and easier to understand.

However, residents in the heart of Brighton fear the new plans would spark a parking free-for-all and increase both congestion and pollution.

They fear people from the outer fringes of the area would be able to use their permit to park nearer the centre, particularly near the train station and The Lanes, effectively getting free parking and ousting them from parking bays near their own homes.

Green councillor Georgia Wrighton was the only councillor to oppose the plans after she raised residents concerns about increased traffic vying for spaces and she worried about pollution.

Committee chairman Councillor Gill Mitchell said the plans would "almost wipe out" the 18-month waiting list for parking permits.

Leaflets and questionnaires were issued to residents in central Brighton as part of an informal consultation.

But Steve Percy, chairman of the People's Parking Protest, said he feared the decision had been a foregone conclusion.

Corrine Attwood, former acting chairwoman for the Clifton Montpelier Powis Communty Alliance, which also opposed the plans, said: "They must have decided in advance. They asked us what we wanted and they have gone ahead regardless.

"It will be much worse if this goes ahead. We could end up parking away from home if people in the periphery can come in for the bars, shops and the rest of the facilities, having us ending up parking in the periphery."

Some residents concerns were taken into consideration.

Single yellow lines will not be replaced with double yellow lines as proposed, unless safety or access problems are an issue.

Up to £100,000 a year is anticipated to be generated from the pay-and-display machines, which will have a high tariff charge of £12 for up to four hours. Parking permits, priced £80 a year for residents and £160 for businesses are expected to raise just as much.

Up to 25 visitors' permits will be available per year for every resident.