Campaigners fighting plans to change road layouts in the city centre were left frustrated when an in-depth look at the scheme was nodded through.

Conservative Brighton and Hove city councillor Lee Wares asked for an internal audit into the decision-making process around the third phase of the Valley Gardens project, which would remove the roundabout by the Palace Pier.

Work is already under way on the first and second phases of the project between St Peter’s Church through to Victoria Gardens, where the layout of the road green spaces are changing.

Cllr Wares criticised the report in a letter and a speech to the council’s audit and standards committee.

A long-term critic of the third phase of the project, he said vital information about funding had not been shared with the environment, transport and sustainability committee before a key decision.

He said: “In three instances this report concludes there was no shortfall in information supplied to councillors or that it was improperly communicated.

“These are shocking conclusions. It is not for officers to decide what information they will supply councillors to reach the right decision.

“Officers must provide all pertinent information for councillors to make a decision, based on all the available information.”

Cllr Wares said the report did not address the complaint about information about Dukes Mound being omitted.

During debates at environment committee meetings, he has shared his concerns about removing the Aquarium roundabout and making Madeira Drive one way, saying these changes would cause traffic problems at Dukes Mound.

He said the report was not a comprehensive statement of the weaknesses or improvements required but a “box-ticking exercise”.

Cllr Wares said he was not criticising the audit report’s authors but the scope and limitations affecting the process. After the meeting he said: “It was very disappointing that despite the original serious issues and my follow-on concerns, they had not been dealt with and Labour and Green councillors had nothing to say.

“Not one question or comment was raised by them and they just waved the report through as ‘job done’.

“It is a shame that when somebody dares to question or criticise the way in which this council and administration operates, the only response is to suggest that I questioned professional integrity.

“If we can’t challenge or ask questions then, frankly, what is the point? It is perhaps of little surprise, however, as neither Labour or the Greens want this appalling scheme – as presently designed – stopped for any reason.”