Dad paid £6-a-week by taxpayers to drive daughter to school after she missed out on place at nearest one
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A businessman is being paid £6 every week by taxpayers to drive his daughter to school - even though he admits he doesn't need the cash.
Howard Millington, 48, the dad of a millionaire teenager property developer, agreed the sum after he was told Molly-Anne, four, could not attend the nearest school from their home.
He admitted he doesn't need the money but highlighted it to alert other parents who may also be entitled to claim.
The 48-year-old, whose son Harvey pocketed £2million from his first property deal in December, accused the council of trying to "fob" him off after being told there were not enough places for Molly-Anne at Staplegrove Primary School.
(Image: SWNS.com)
She has been allocated a place at Norton Fitzwarren, 1.7 miles from their house.
When Mr Millington appealed the decision, arguing that the walk to Norton was too dangerous, the council offered to pay his travel costs at 18p per mile.
The rules state that a child aged under eight is expected to walk to school unless it is more than two miles away or the route is too dangerous to walk.
The payments have not yet started but Howard says he will be given around £6 a week for travel expenses.
That will work out at around £1,600 for the next seven years when she will go to secondary school.
(Image: Google Maps)
Mr Millington, of Taunton, Somerset, said: "We were quite prepared to walk to Staplegrove - it's two fields and a footpath - but the route to Norton is too dangerous.
"When the council said they would send someone to test the route I told them I would follow him with a wheelbarrow and a shovel ready to scoop him off the road.
"In the end, he refused to walk the route because it was too dangerous.
"They tried to fob me off. I don't need the money and I think it's wrong that they pay you to take your child to school.
"But there must be people missing out who are entitled to claim because the council doesn't publicise it very well. It makes you wonder how many people aren't getting paid."
A Somerset County Council spokesman said: "We have a free school transport policy that we apply consistently and fairly.
"Officers will look at each child's circumstances and arrange the most appropriate and cost effective form of travel to get the child to school.
"This may mean the child gets a bus pass for an existing route, a new bus route is considered or parents are offered a fuel allowance to take their child to school."