Motoring lobbyists have claimed the predicted £112,000 bill for free parking in the run up to Christmas “does not add up”.

In an effort to boost business, opposition groups on Brighton and Hove City Council united and agreed to look at waiving the fees at some of its city centre car parks in December.

Conservative and Labour councillors claimed it would increase footfall on some of the busiest shopping days of the year.

But, before the final vote is taken by a key town hall committee on Tuesday, officials claimed the proposals will cost the council £112,000 in lost income.

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Members of lobby group Unchain the Brighton Motorist, which includes unions, the tourism alliance and dozens of city businesses, claim this sum is “way off the mark”.

Andy Cheesman, of the group, said he believed the figure was actually nearer to £40,000.

He said: “They have already come down from £300,000 which they originally claimed. The estimate just doesn’t add up.”

The opposition plan is to provide free parking at Norton Road, London Road, Regency Square, High Street and Trafalgar Street car parks on December 7 and on the three Sundays before Christmas.

Town hall officers claim each of these days will see 50,000 to 100,000 visitors to the city centre each day.

They added the opposition plan would see the council lose £47,000 from the named car parks, plus an extra £65,000 in parking income from other areas.

Council leader Jason Kitcat said the analysis from officials showed the opposition plan to be “completely anti-business”.

Claiming it could be “counter-productive” with the proposal causing congestion and negative publicity, the council’s Green administration presented an alternative plan to reduce prices at London Road and Regency Square, while providing free parking in Norton Road car park in the run-up to Christmas.

The administration also wants to permanently reduce the Sunday parking rate for the London Road car park.

He added the revised plans were already in the pipeline but this is questioned by opposition groups and campaigners.

Others have called for non-car users to receive discounted tariffs at the same time. Chris Todd, of Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, said: “If councillors want to boost trade, why are they not trying to fill empty seats on the buses?”