PARKING is currently the most emotive motoring issue in Bolton, far surpassing such other traffic hot-spots as bus and cycle lanes, speed cameras and bridge repairs.

As our in-depth reports today confirm, the parking scene in Bolton is almost a war of wits between the hunters and the hunted -- drivers and parking attendants. And the main casualty at the end of it could well be the Bolton shopping scene, as it risks losing out to other places with less stressful parking facilities, like the out-of-town retail parks such as the Trafford Centre and Middlebrook and local towns like Bury and Leigh.

Sooner, rather than later, there will have to be a complete and radical rethink over cars in towns like ours and parking charges. We all want to park as close to shops and as near to work as possible, but there simply is not enough space in the confined towns and cities of Britain to cope with an annual increase in traffic.

Park and ride schemes, which are suitable for some districts, won't work in other areas. And free parking, though a dream for drivers, is not the answer either -- the end result would simply be a log-jam of vehicles and even more road chaos.

The 21st century will undoubtedly pose the biggest challenges to the travelling public that Britain has ever experienced. Whether we have the resolve and resources to face up to it is the crux of the matter.

Royal reminder

THE death of Princess Margaret at the weekend must have evoked memories of the loss of Princess Diana, as both royals never achieved the degree of personal happiness they sought and deserved.

Margaret in her youth was equally beautiful and talented, with an interest in music and the theatre, which is where her main link with Bolton lies. She officially opened the town's Octagon Theatre in 1967 and retained an on-going interest in its fortunes, including that of its crisis period in 1999.

Her determination to play a part in the royal scene, despite failing health, reflected the sort of True Brit spirit which is sadly lacking in much of today's society.