DRIVERS who take blind children to school say they are being penalised by the council for “simply doing their job”.

A lack of parking spaces close to Joseph Clarke School in Vincent Road, Highams Park, is causing chaos according to a driver with 24 years’ experience.

Terry Taylor, who works for council-contracted Davain, says the council has placed a CCTV ‘spy car’ close to the school and a number of his colleagues hadbeen fined £50 for attempting to ensure the children got to school safely.

He said: “For health and safety reasons, we have to park as near to the school gate as possible.

“But it impossible to find a place to stop and the turning circle at the school is always blocked.

“It is chaos and completely unacceptable. The council has not provided adequate parking and is now fining us beause we want to get the children to school safely.

“There are assistants who take the children into school with our help, but there are some who are in wheelchairs and we have to manouvre around vehicles.

“The council have not provided proper facilities and now it is fining us – it is like they are doing it just to make money.”

Another contractor, Ifti Ruckaki, was recently fined and said drivers were ‘easy targets’.

“What will happen if this goes on? We are not going to be able to serve the school,” he said.

The council said it was investigating the issue.