Hundreds of pensioners are facing disruption to their travel plans after the issuing of free bus passes was delayed.
The passes, handed out by local authorities nationwide, entitle older residents to free local bus travel anywhere in the UK and should have been issued by Three Rivers District Council at the beginning of April.
However, in a letter to residents last week, the Rickmansworth based authority apologised for unforeseen difficulties with the documents' manufacturers and said they should be issued by the middle of the month.
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In the meantime residents have been told they can use temporary passes, but only after making their own way to the council offices to pick them up in person.
These must then be returned when the genuine passes arrive.
But many residents claim this is not good enough and have criticised the council's inability to meet a deadline adhered to by hundreds of other local authorities - including Watford Borough Council.
Alan Mayall, 75, of Silkmill Road, Eastbury, said the delay would hurt the most vulnerable pensioners.
He said: "The council has told us we can come over to their offices and collect a temporary pass but that's not the point of a free pass, is it?
"It's OK for me because I can drive, but many other people can't.
"If they live in Kings Langley or Sarratt and don't drive it could take them half the day to get over there.
"It's a real double whammy for us, right after we got our Council Tax bills - which have risen again.
"The worst thing is that I live right on the Watford and Three Rivers border.
"If I lived on the other side of the road I'd have my pass by now."
A representative for the council said: "Bus passes are an excellent way for pensioners and people with disabilities to enjoy life to the full without expensive travel costs.
The passes also help to reduce car use, supporting the council's environmental agenda.
Policy manager, Three Rivers District Council, Ted O'Neill, said: "We have written to all bus pass holders to advise them of the delay in issuing the new passes.
"In view of the huge number of passes being provided on a national basis the suppliers were unable to meet our timescale.
"I'm very pleased to say that we have now posted nearly 8,500 passes this week and the remainder will be sent very shortly."
Posted by: John Howard Norfolk, Tiverton, Devon (formerly Oxhey Village) on 6:39pm Sat 5 Apr 08
This news report is inaccurate.
The bus passes are [bold]NOT[/bold] valid throughout the UK. They are issued by local authorities in England for travel within [bold]England only[/bold] . There are quite separate arrangements for Wales and Scotland. I have recently moved from Watford to Devon where there are similar problems in issuing the new passes but our council here has simply arranged with the bus company to accept the existing passes for local travel within our own county for a further couple of weeks by which time it should be possible to supply the new all-England pass.
This news report is inaccurate.
The bus passes are NOT valid throughout the UK. They are issued by local authorities in England for travel within England only . There are quite separate arrangements for Wales and Scotland. I have recently moved from Watford to Devon where there are similar problems in issuing the new passes but our council here has simply arranged with the bus company to accept the existing passes for local travel within our own county for a further couple of weeks by which time it should be possible to supply the new all-England pass.
"[italic]It's a real double whammy for us, right after we got our Council Tax bills - which have risen again[/italic] ."
Not due to Three Rivers - the council tax payment to them has actually reduced.
"It's a real double whammy for us, right after we got our Council Tax bills - which have risen again ."
Not due to Three Rivers - the council tax payment to them has actually reduced.
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