50,000th Discovery Card
50,000 Discovery Cards issued
June 2010
Bath & North East Somerset Council are
celebrating the success of a scheme which gives residents free
access to a range of local attractions, with the issuing of the
50,000th Discovery Card.
The Council’s Discovery Card scheme, launched
in spring 2003, offers residents free access to attractions
including the Roman Baths and Fashion Museum as well as discounts
at many other local attractions.
Mr Marc Kocen visited the Roman Baths on
Thursday 17 June with his wife Lynne and was surprised to find that
he had signed up for the 50,000th Discovery Card. They were met by
Councillor Terry Gazzard, who presented them a gift from the Roman
Baths shop.
Councillor Terry Gazzard, Cabinet Member for
Tourism, Leisure & Culture (Conservative, Abbey) said:
“I was delighted to be able to present Mr
Kocen with the 50,000th Discovery Card. Bath & North
East Somerset Council’s Discovery Cards give local people the
opportunity to enjoy our world class arts and culture for free and
I’m pleased they have proved so popular.
“It’s great to be able to celebrate this
milestone, hopefully this will encourage even more local people to
sign up.”
Originally from the Netherlands, Mr and Mrs
Kocen have been living in the Bath & North East Somerset area
for the past four years. Mr Kocen is studying for a PhD from Bath
Spa University.
“I never win anything!” said Mr Kocen. “It is
my birthday and we came here to celebrate because we have been
meaning to visit for the past two years. There is much more
to see than we realised and it is amazing that there is so much
wonderful Roman history under our feet in Bath.”
Each Discovery Card is valid for three
years. 50,000 have been issued since the service started and
there are currently 22,000 valid cards in circulation, which means
that one in seven of the adult population of Bath & North East
Somerset has one.
Signing up for a Discovery Card is free and
easy to do. All you need to do is take proof of address and ID
along to the Roman Baths main entrance hall, Riverside in
Keynsham or The Hollies in Midsomer Norton and a card will be
issued to you.
For a full list of attraction covered by the
Card and to find out more, please visit http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/ and go
to the Discovery Card pages using the A-Z index, email discoverycard@bathnes.gov.uk
or call 01225 477785. Alternatively you can get an information
leaflet by sending an A5 stamped addressed envelope to Discovery
Card, Pump Room, Stall Street, Bath BA1 1LZ.
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
The Discovery Card is free to adults and
children aged 14+ who live permanently within the boundaries of
Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Attractions free with a Discovery Card include the Council
run Roman Baths and Fashion Museum. The Victoria Art Gallery has
free admission for everyone. Discounts are also available at
other attractions throughout the area including Thermae Bath Spa,
the Royal Crescent Hotel, Radstock Museum and Horseworld in
Whitchurch.