Thanks for your help but it seems I don't permission to post attachments. The ECN stares - Bawtry Town Council (Market Place, Bawtry) Off Street Parking Places Order 2002. Failure to pay is an offence and will lead to legal prosecution under Section 35A of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984. The subsequent notice to owner has Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 under the Excel logo. States I was contravening paragraph 8(a) of the Bawtry Town Council (Market Place, Bawtry) Off Street Parking Places Order 2002. The letter then quotes 'it is an offence under section 35A of the RTRA 1984 to fail to pay the full excess charge etc. Please note I was parked after the expiry of time.

It's the whole town/parish thing that I was unclear about. The parking certainly does belong to Bawtry Town Council and yes, does quote Section 35a of RTA 1984.

I have read on this site that "Private Parking Companies are not backed by any aspect of criminal law. Tickets from Traffic Wardens working for the police or local authorities or tickets issued by police officers are. There are provisions for them in the Road Traffic Act 1991 and these provisions allow sanctions that the issuing authority can take. " I have an excess charge notice from Excel Parking Services Limited relating to off street parking for Bawtry Town Council. I am confused as to whether the RTA applies in this case. I had intended to take the route of asking for evidence of the driver etc but am now unsure.