VALE residents already eligible for local authority travel concessions have been reassured they need not lose out on using the benefit before their authorisation documents are distributed through village outlets next month.

Hampton resident Alan Holden feared there was an anomaly in the introduction of the scheme, which has provided those qualifying for it with choices of travel tokens, free car parking or bus passes since the beginning of June. Distribution for Hampton will take place in the village hall on July 17 - six weeks after the scheme was implemented.

Although, at 53, Mr Holden, of Alexandra Road, is too young to qualify, he was bemused when he received a pamphlet promoting the scheme.

He said: "I am not eligible to take advantage of this generous offer but I noticed that the bus passes can be used from June 1, 2001.

"When these passes may be obtained, I noted that they are being issued in Hampton on July 17 between 9.30am and noon."

He added: "You can use it but you've got to wait six weeks to get it."

Stuart Hook, customer services officer for Wychavon District Council, which is running the scheme, said anyone eligible could get their documents immediately, rather than wait until the council team visited their villages. "They can be collected from the council's one-stop shops in the meantime," he explained.

Mr Hook added that legislation permitting the travel concessions had only recently been passed, leaving the authority with little time to organise distribution at local level.

Prior bookings of village halls by other organisations had also delayed the process.

Sixty locations throughout the district are being used between July 2 and 13 to issue the documentation.

"We go to just about every single area in our district," said Mr Hook. Council teams will provide advice and help people who qualify for the concession complete their paperwork.

Anyone wanting further details can contact Mr Hook on 01386 565438.