Politicians and business leaders are rallying against proposals for a £2 toll to drive into Brighton and Hove.

They say the fee, part of a £1 billion blueprint for transport across the South Coast, would put a stranglehold on the city.

Officers at Brighton and Hove City Council have recommended councillors reject the proposal when they discuss the congestion-cutting wish-list next week.

The congestion charge is part of a series of plans to cut car use. They also include a £5 hike in car park charges and a levy on workers' parking spaces.

Councillor Paul Elgood, leader of the city's Liberal Democrat group, said: "This would put the city on the road to ruin."

Other measures proposed for the city in the South Coast Corridor Multi-Modal Study, which we revealed exclusively yesterday, include a supertram or guided bus network and a park-and-ride scheme.

While many have been welcomed, the road toll faces strong opposition.

Coun Elgood said: "It would crucify shops and businesses in the centre of Brighton and Hove. Instead of the Place to Be, it would be the place to flee. The city centre would become a no-go area and a ghost city."

City Centre Business Forum spokesman Tony Mernagh said: "It would be unwise to increase parking charges because I think we need to wait for the last increases to be assessed.

"If we get to the point where increased charges discourage people coming to the city, it's counter-productive."

Brighton Chamber of Commerce's Peter Cowley said: "It's not particularly good news. I cannot see the charges being very popular."

The proposed tolls and charges could provoke a public outcry.

He said: "I can't see shops being particularly happy and I cannot see it being good for Brighton and Hove.

"If we actually had a good park-and-ride and agreed a good site there would be some hope but all these proposals about charges seem a little desperate."

Derek Maddison, manager of Churchill Square shopping centre, stressed the proposed charges should not be seen in isolation.

He said: "From our business point of view, you can only have congestion charges if they are supported by a vast improvement in other means of transport for getting in and out of the centre.

"Otherwise, it would have an adverse effect."

Brighton and Hove transport councillor Simon Battle said: "No one should think there will be congestion charges introduced in the next few months.

"These ideas could take five, ten, 15 years or more to implement."

He said consultants had put up the suggestions but it would be down to councillors to get public opinion behind them and find the money.

Only when park-and-ride was fully in place could congestion charges be considered.

The results of the study, which has been carried out over two years by consultants Halcrow, are due to be discussed by the city environment committee next Thursday.

Councillors are being recommended to welcome the balanced approach of the study but not to back road user charging.

Outside Brighton and Hove there are plans for a new bypass around Arundel, three proposed road tunnels on the A27 between Worthing and Lancing and a new Bexhill-to-Hastings link road.

The study takes in all forms of transport, from walking and cycling to motoring, rail, sea and air travel.

It pulls together proposals which have been put forward in the past three decades into one over-arching strategy to dictate how transport will evolve throughout the region.

Amanda Brace, spokeswoman for Friends of the Earth, said she hoped the proposed new regional assembly would throw out the plans.

Peter Mumford, of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, criticised major road building plans detailed in the study.

He said: "The report contains much that is good along these lines.

"But their approach in these areas to date has been timid."