Plans to penalise owners of gas-guzzling cars with higher parking charges are gaining pace after the Greens and Liberal Democrats backed the move.

Labour politicians last week revealed an election pledge to increase residents' parking permits for the most polluting vehicles in Brighton and Hove.

The scheme has now received support from the city's second and third largest parties but the Conservative group said it would not be backing the measure.

Green councillors said they would be putting forward plans in this year's budget to introduce a sliding scale of prices for residents' permits, with the most environmentally-friendly charged nothing and owners of fuel-thirsty SUVs and sports cars forced to fork out £240.

More than five per cent of car owners, or 1,100 vehicles, will fall under the top band and the Greens also want to increase the average residents' permit by ten per cent.

Councillor Keith Taylor said: "In 2005, the Greens persuaded the council to link parking charges to low-emission vehicles. Now it's time for further action.

"Taxes and charges should be used to influence behaviour and tackle climate change but residents should also get something in return for their money.

"Greens would plough back some of the money raised to the communities where it is collected.

"Residents' permits have remained at £80 for ten years but even with a £10 rise in the basic price, discounts would mean nearly half the permit holders would pay only £1 extra, by virtue of having lower-emission vehicles."

Council finance officers have examined the proposals as part of the annual budget process and estimate it would raise an extra £500,000 a year.

Half of the funds would be put towards the introduction of residents' parking zones and the rest would be handed to communities to spend on neighbourhood projects.

A similar scheme is set to be introduced in the Liberal Democrat London borough of Richmond, and Brighton and Hove's branch of the party is looking at the proposals for this year's budget.

Lib Dem Councillor Paul Elgood said: "The Liberal Democrat council in Richmond has pioneered this policy and the people of Brighton and Hove understand that polluting cars are not good for our city centre."

But the city's Tory group has refused to back the move and if the party wins an overall majority in May's election will be able to block the policy.

Councillor Ted Kemble said: "There would be a small environmental benefit but if we want to try and improve things then we need to tackle all 4x4s across the city, not just the ones in controlled parking zones, and what about tourists?

"If we want to push green issues up the agenda it needs to be fair for all."

Labour Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the environment committee, said she welcomed support from other parties.

Her policy includes charging the owners of cars which produce the most CO2 up to 50 per cent more.

She said: "It is a shame the main opposition party seems opposed to it.

"I am very surprised with the Conservatives, they seem to be stuck in another century.

"The feedback I have received since the story appeared in The Argus has been really good."

What the Greens are proposing:

Road Tax Number of cars in Brighton and Hove Percentage change to £80 permit Cost under new New banding system Band A 3 -100% Free Band B 187 -50% 40 Band C 2,300 -10% 72 Band D 1,905 10% 88 Band E 1,482 30% 104 Band F 1,437 50% 120 Band G 789 200% 240