LOCAL businesses are being urged to sign up to a new discount card to help drive customers into a high street.

The Petts Wood Gold Card will offer customers discounts in the town’s shops, restaurants and cafes which have signed up to the recession-busting initiative.

The discount card is being launched by the Petts Wood Business Association and is the brainchild of one of its members and boss of Jolly Good Sports, Tony Smith.

He said: “We need to do something about encouraging people to shop locally and show that smaller retailers are fighting back.

“People may come to me to have a tennis racket re-strung but then walk out of my shop and leave Petts Wood altogether.

“We want to keep customers shopping and this card might persuade them to stay in the town a bit longer.”

Around 30 businesses have so far shown an interest in the idea and the association wants more to sign up.

It will then be down to individual owners to decide the amount of discount they would like to offer to Gold Card holders.

'Giving something back'

Mr Smith, who has run his shop in Queensway since 1992, added: “It is about local businesses giving something back to the local community.

“It’s a feel-good story for the town and something we really need in this economic climate.

“We are trying to make a difference here and I know the idea can, and will, work.

“We just need to get as many people on board as possible.”

Local businesses will pay around £30 for 200 discount cards to distribute to its customers.

The money will also give bosses the chance to email card holders with special offers once a month.

Gold window stickers will let shoppers know which businesses have signed up to the scheme.

The town’s business association plan to launch the card on July 4.