IT looks as if there will be quite a lot of strife when Swindon Council takes over the enforcement of parking regulations on September 1.

The authority says it will ticket cars parked on double yellow lines, but people living in residents' parking zones say they are forced to park on the lines because the permits have been oversold and there are far more cars with permits than places for them.

Both sides in this debate have valid points. The council is right to want to clear the streets of illegally-parked cars, which can hamper road safety and impede emergency vehicles.

Conversely, residents are right to point out that they would be happy to use the spaces they pay an annual fee for if only enough were available.

Compromise will be vital if the council wants to avoid open revolt and residents being snowed under with parking tickets. Residents should ask themselves how many vehicles it is practicable for a household to have, and should use any garages or off-street parking spaces available.

And the council should temper its much-vaunted crackdown with a touch of reason and compassion.