A card giving people discounts to Swindon's leisure centres is available from Monday.

SwindonCard, being run by the borough council, becomes effective from February 10 and will replace the existing booking card, gold card, student card and staff card.

The aim is for the card to enable subsidised use of council venues more effectively and ensure people with real need can use them. The card, which entitles people to 30 per cent off leisure activities, will be available from the town's leisure centres and Wat Tyler House, Beckhampton Street.

It will cost £15 a year for people living within the borough of Swindon and £22 for those outside, and under-16s, people on benefits and the over-60s will pay a charge of £5. SwindonCard will still be free to people on unemployment benefit, foster children and children under three.

A helpline 0800 328 2236 is available from Monday to help anyone who is affected by the change or who has any queries.

An official launch is taking place next weekend with promotional activities taking place at the Steam Museum, Link Centre, Oasis and Broome Manor Golf Club.

Councillor Justin Tomlinson is the Conservative spokesman on Leisure & Recreation.  "I am delighted that Swindon Council has introduced this scheme.  I believe it will both encourage existing users of our leisure services to use them more regularly, and also help attract new users."

"Swindon Council actively looks to support healthy living, and many of leisure facilities provided by the Council help improve peoples health through exercise."

"Swindon Council's leisure facilities face increasing competition from the private sector, for example we have seen a large increase in the number of private gyms opening in Swindon over the last 12 months.  At present Swindon Council loses approximately £3 million on its leisure services, a figure which is falling.  Increased numbers of users will help bring this total down further, helping take pressure of the Council Tax payer, and helping release additional money for improving leisure services in the future."

"I will be monitoring the success of the Swindon Card scheme and will help the Council introduce further schemes which will help increase the numbers of users for our services."