Residents claim their views are being ignored over controversial plans to introduce parking restrictions in their road.

Brighton and Hove Council is considering the introduction of residents-only parking in the Goldsmid ward and has set up a forum to look into the plan.

Residents in Addison Road, Hove, claim they were not told of the forum where local people and businesses are able to put forward their opinions.

Dr Bob Potter, who lives in the road, said he heard of the forums earlier this year and applied to be a member.

He heard nothing until he called the council and was told his application had been lost.

He said: "After I wrote I heard nothing until a council officer said the forum had already met and they had no record of my letter which is disgusting.

"I am in favour of residents having their views taken into account but as far as I can see, parking restrictions will make things worse and not better.

"If there are designated parking spaces, people will find it increasingly difficult to leave their cars in front of their own houses because there will be less space to park."

Linda Ludlow, who also lives in the road, said: "We only heard about the plan by sheer chance when a notice was seen in a bakery at Seven Dials. This shouldn't happen in a so-called democracy."

A council spokeswoman said a representative from the road was on the forum where a ward councillor had said residents were in favour of a parking scheme.

She added: "We will be doing a full public consultation in the autumn and absolutely nothing will be decided until then.

"We do listen to what local people say."

We reported this year how Brighton and Hove Council was accused of preventing the public from having a say on its new parking policies.

It was claimed that the forums set up to thrash out details of residents' parking schemes are not representative.

Hove councillor Paul Elgood has accused the council and its consultants of holding forum meetings behind closed doors.