SIR - Regarding William Oliver's letter "Signs are unclear" (T&A, November 26) - whether or not any car parking signs are easily read is not the issue.

These signs are presented in a way which appears to be some kind of official notification of parking instructions for which a penalty is payable if breached.

The Forster Square Retail Park is not owned or administered by the Council or any other statutory organisation and therefore the so-called penalty notices do not have the face of law, as is provided for in the relevant parking legislation.

The Forster Square car park is privately owned and the retailers themselves have employed a private company to run their car parks.

Consequently, the only way the penalty notices could be enforced (if not paid) is through a civil action for loss in the courts.

I did invite one of these companies to sue me for loss about two years ago when they issued me with a penalty notice in similar circumstances. I did not pay and I am still waiting for a reply.

J Simes, Roundhill Close, Clayton Heights, Bradford