COUNCIL bosses are to form a taskforce with the help of Swindon residents to tackle an on-going parking problem.

For years people in many areas of the town have battled to find parking spaces near their homes.

Now councillor Jemima Milton, lead member for transport and the environment, hopes residents can find a solution.

Coun Milton (Con, Wroughton and Chiseldon) yesterday admitted to the Evening Advertiser that people are nearing boiling point as the council continues to issue residents' parking permits even though there is no space to accommodate them.

She said: "I can understand people's anger and we are aware of the problem we are determined to resolve it. So far it's proving difficult to find a solution.

"The obvious answer would be to stop issuing permits and limit each household to just one.

"But we appreciate that many people now have more than one car.

"That is why we want to get the residents' views before a decision is made in July."

Swindon Council has pencilled in six meetings over the coming weeks, which will allow residents of all 12 of the town's parking zones to have their say.

Following each meeting, it is hoped that three residents will come forward to form an action group.

Workshops will then be set up with a view to thrashing out ideas.

Zone A, which includes the area around Crombey Street and Kings-hill, appears to be one of the worst affected.

"There are 837 households in this area and just 251 parking spaces," said Coun Milton.

"Yet a total of 392 permits have been issued. This is happening in other parts of Swindon too and we need to address it."

In September Swindon Council officially took over control of parking from the police.

In place of traffic wardens, a team of 40 parking attendants now patrols our streets.

During the "bedding in" period, they were told to go easy on residents and instead concentrate on inner-town illegal parking.

But David Lochhead, of Dixon Street, in the town centre, received a £40 fine for parking his car on a double yellow line.

He told the Evening Advertiser that he had returned from holiday in the early hours only to discover that all the residential parking spaces were taken.

He said: "The street was completely full," he said.

"I pay my money for my residents' permit so I should be able to park legally."

Now Coun Milton fears the problem will worsen as the attendants spread their net further.

"We are seeing great results in the town centre and the area is certainly getting better," she said.

"But attendants are now getting further and further out into the residential areas and we are finding problems as people struggle to find a space."

The meetings will be held at the following times:

Zones L and N, April 20, 6pm in Council Chamber

Zone B, C and K, April 27, 6pm in Committee Room 6

Zones F and A, May 6, 6pm in Committee Room 3

Zone J and H, May 18, 7.15pm in Committee Room 1

Zone D and E, May 20, 6pm in Committee Room 1