Motorists look set to receive an early Christmas present after councillors backed the idea for free parking on some of the busiest shopping days of the year.

In an effort to boost business, Brighton and Hove City Council has agreed to waive the fees on some of its city centre car parks in December.

The Green administration claimed it would cause traffic chaos as queues of cars snaked back along the A23 while costing the taxpayer between £200,000 and £300,000 in lost income.

But, after labelling the estimated amount “absurd”, Conservative and Labour members united to vote through the proposals.

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Officials have now been told to go away and bring back detailed plans to a special meeting of the cross-party policy and resources committee planned for the coming weeks.

Conservative councillor Graham Cox said: “This is not pro or anti motorist but about the city’s reputation, a reputation which has been gained by the massive hike in parking prices which means Brighton and Hove is seen as a place where the motorist gets ripped off.

“This is just a small measure of addressing that problem.”

In response, Green councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the council’s economic development committee, said: “It’s laughable that you’re offering a marketing incentive on the days when most people want to go shopping.

“We have had record numbers of visitors this year.

“Demand speaks for itself and we have car parks filled here even on weekends.

“It is not anti-business to not offer free parking. You will see the chaos and we will no doubt come back to revisit this.”

The aim is to provide free parking at Norton Road, London Road, Regency Square, High Street and Trafalgar Street car parks on Saturday, December 7 and on the three Sundays before Christmas (December 8, 15 and 22).

It was part of a wider proposal from the Labour group to support Small Business Saturday, a global campaign planned for December 7.

Within the same debate, Labour councillor Anne Meadows called for the council to go even further and suspend all bus lanes to get people flowing into the city.

However fellow members said this was not the party’s official policy.

Labour group leader Warren Morgan said: “While we support [the Conservative plan] I believe it’s important that it’s cost effective.”

Andy Cheesman, of lobby group Unchain the Brighton Motorist, which includes the Federation of Small business, the Tourism Alliance, GMB union, Unite and many trader groups and individuals across the city, said: “It was very good to see the Conservative and Labour groups working together for the good of the city and small businesses.

“I was disappointed to see that the Greens in the final vote voted against Small Business Saturday.”

Chris Todd, of Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, said: “Just as motorists might be concerned with the cost of car parking, bus users are concerned with the cost of bus fares.

“Why is there no giveaway for them or has Scrooge come early this year?”