Drivers face parking squad

The city has problems with its many narrow streets

Motorists are facing a massive clampdown on illegal parking in one of the country's most congested cities.

Brighton and Hove is nearly tripling its parking patrols and fines are being increased to £60.

The new parking squad will operate seven days a week from dawn until midnight.

The tough stand is being taken by the city council, which takes over the parking problem from the police on 16 July.

The authority says it is concerned at the level of dangerous and illegal parking which can cause chaos in some of the narrower streets.

The council wants to keep streets clear for pedestrians

It is also introducing residents' parking zones and adding yellow lines throughout the city.

The authority is replacing traffic wardens with its own squad of "parking attendants".

The council leader, Councillor Ken told BBC South Today: "We are going to really enforce these regulations.

"In particular we are going to look at illegal parking, people parking on corners, people parking near traffic lights, people parking near pedestrian crossings, and also people parking on pavements.

Angry reaction

"It's unacceptable if you've got a wheelchair or you're trying to push a pram.

"You can't do that at the moment because people are parking all over the pavements."

But some business owners have reacted angrily to the scheme.

Mike Cook, the Brighton and Hove area director of Sussex Enterprise, said: "The high street traders, particularly in Hove, are up in arms about these proposals.

"The general view is that it's going to act as a deterrent to visitors to the city."