ONE word guaranteed to prompt an opinion from any local resident, plus a steep rise in blood pressure, is "parking."

The lack of it, how it is policed and fines for doing it badly are a consistent source of controversy in the Bolton area.

Watch out for more local residents red in the face, therefore, over our story tonight on a decision to increase parking fines by 50 per cent.

Motorists now face illegal parking penalty charges of £60 instead of £40, with the new lower rate up to £30 from £20 for those settling within a fortnight.

The move brings Bolton in line with neighbouring local authorities, but this will probably cut no ice with many local drivers.

The BEN has been critical in the past of any suggestion of raising charges relating to parking. We are in favour of cheap parking to encourage town centre trade, especially with Christmas on the horizon.

But, we are not prepared to condemn this latest hike in fines.

People who park illegally are selfish nuisances who need realistic cash penalties to stop them doing it again.

Bad parking can clog up busy roads, cause problems for pedestrians and residents, and damage retail trade.

Bolton's parking wardens have long been labelled "over-zealous", and there have been occasions when we have agreed with this description.

But this does not mean that a more lenient system of fines would help stamp out bad parkers.

Parking rules are generally there for realistic reasons, and if motorists want to ignore the law, then they must be prepared to accept the penalties. Hitting them where it hurts -- in the pocket -- is the best way to improve the situation. Changes needed WHEN the big shake-up in national gambling laws was first announced, it looked like good news for the North-west.

The modernisation of the ancient rules paved the way for seaside resorts like Blackpool to open Las Vegas style casinos.

Unfortunately, it also means that local working men's clubs will suffer and have to cut fruit machine jackpots from £250 to £25. The new system may even make it impossible to have the money-making jackpot machines in clubs at all.

We hope that the Gambling Review Body can now take a second look at the legal wording, and insert the slight alterations to help keep our clubs alive.