WINSFORD Academy has taken action over the abuse of disabled parking bays.

Geoff Claire, 58, says his wife Tina Claire, 53 – who suffers from osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia – says he has raised the issue with the school on several occasions.

He claims his wife often cannot park in the allocated bays close to the entrance as they are occupied.

“It’s as if the disabled don’t exist,” Geoff said. “Someone has to be accountable. It’s a huge car park, they just can’t be bothered.

“The children aren’t that unfit. I am sure they could walk an extra 10 or 20 yards.

“It feels like they’re sticking two fingers up at us. The wife is really upset over it.”

Geoff claims some drivers park in the spots for the duration of the day and questioned whether staff were using them.

However, this was firmly denied by the school.

“The only other use of the spaces are by disabled badge holders from the Academy staff,” a spokesman from The Winsford Academy said.

Geoff said he has confronted drivers in the past, but claims he often gets ‘abused’.

“Most of the time when you confront people you just get abuse,” Geoff said. “People just look at you and say ‘yeah?’

“If people have to pay for a blue badge and people cheat the system then I think they should be fined, because that’s the law.”

Geoff has called on the school to fine those who park in disabled spots without a blue badge.

A spokesman from The Winsford Academy said it has put a monitoring system in place.

The school spokesman said: “Staff are patrolling the car park towards the end of the school day to ensure disabled visitors only, park in the designated disabled spaces.

“Any drivers attempting to park in the bays are challenged and provided with an explanation, whilst pointing out that the spaces are clearly marked for disabled use.

“The site manager has also spoken with a number of legitimate disabled drivers to explain the measures we are taking and this seems to have been warmly received.

“The matter is now resolved. There will always be ample parking for disabled badge holders who are visiting the Academy.”