EDITORIAL Solution for parking will be hard to find

IT may have been a simple case of applying the letter of the law, but the parking blitz which caught out scores of people attending the daytime Wiggles concerts at WIN Entertainment Centre last week did nothing to enhance the city's image as a pleasant and friendly place to visit.

There is no dispute that those who copped a fine did park illegally.

But in the context of the city's dreadful shortage of parking spaces, especially during weekdays when available places are at a premium, the blitz could be seen as poorly timed, inappropriate, even heavy handed.

Surprisingly, community reaction to our coverage of the blitz has been equally divided between support for the parking rangers' action and indignant outrage.

Wollongong City Council defended the actions of its parking rangers, but has now recognised the last thing our city needs is a repeat of the angry scenes which followed the Wiggles concert.

Council general manager David Farmer is planning to hold discussions in the new year to develop a strategy to better manage parking issues when a major event is held during business hours.

We wish him the best of luck.

After being put in the too hard basket for years by previous councils, finding a workable solution to this particular problem will not be easy.