RESIDENTS only parking zones are a bit like income tax rebates. They may be promised but take ages to materialise.

For the hard-pressed residents in some of Skipton's terraced housing, next year cannot come soon enough. For these householders a simple expedition by car like taking the kids to school, or a quick trip to the shops means that when they return there's no parking in the same postal zone.

Yet the prospect of residents only parking in Skipton fills us with some trepidation. It is fine in principle but no-one seems willing to even address, never mind answer, the question of what will happen to all these cars?

The obvious answer is that commuters will be forced off the residential areas and into the car parks (assuming, that is, that these zones are policed as stringently as the pay and display parking). Doubtless the authorities will view this as an outstanding result: residents happy and revenue from the motorists.

By 9am the car parks on Coach Street and Sackville Street will be full. But what then? Once the sun comes out and the visitors start pouring in they will be directed to those car parks and drive round endlessly looking in vain for a parking space.

The council has declared that at least maintaining the existing number of parking spaces in Skipton is essential. Residents-only zones will cut, perhaps dramatically, the number of spaces available for tourists.

Everyone wants to see the Town Hall car park made multi storey (by going underground, rather than building upwards) but, quite correctly, the council is determined that what ever it does on such a sensitive site is properly researched and does not do more harm than good. But unless it acts to provide more space in tandem with residents-only zones, there will be chaos.