HE was once dubbed the Phantom Parker of Old Glasgow Town.

Alan Love was the millionaire who felt he could leave his Roller wherever he liked on city streets – and didn't care about the tickets.

He left the city five years ago – just as the council bought itself a truck big enough to tow his luxury motor.

But now Mr Love and his Rolls-Royce Phantom are back.

The Evening Times spotted the classic car on double yellow lines in Dundas Street, one of his old haunts.

Today the entrepreneur – part owner of the Fake Bake tanning giant – admitted he had been caught flouting parking rules.

He said "I have been nipping into town on business. I have picked up a few tickets."

At one point in 2007 Mr Love was understood to be paying up to £150 a week in fines – £30 a pop if the fines are paid within a fortnight. Now council officials are using Mr Love – and other such repeat offenders – as an example of why they think fines should be raised to £100.

The Scottish Government recently turned down that proposal. Mr Love thinks they were right to do so.

He said: "Why do they discourage you from staying all day at a meter. Why can't you pay for more than two hours at a time?

"If they put up the fines it will only discourage more people from coming to the city centre for shopping."

Council officials have long argued that Mr Love causes an obstruction with his car.

Overstaying in a bay, of course, won't do that. But sitting on double yellow lines will.

Mr Love admits he occasionally stops where he should not – but insists some such lines are dubious.

For some, he is a hero, "sticking it to the man" in the council. Others disagree. Mr Love said: "We are in a culture unfortunately if you have a nice car you have obviously done something wrong to pay for it. In Scotland they want to see you fall down."

Parking officials stress double yellow lines are there for a reason. In the case of Dundas Street, which is a cul-de-sac, it is to let delivery trucks turn.

A council source said: "Being very rich doesn't give you the right to be obnoxious and stick two fingers up at law- abiding citizens."

david.leask@ heraldandtimes.co.uk

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