Call for Youngsters to Get Free Entry to Scots Science Centres Subsidised Costs 'Would Boost Visitor

Nov 07, 07:31 AM

Current Headlines: By ROBBIE DINWOODIE CHIEF SCOTTISH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT and RUTH GILLBE

SCIENCE centres across Scotland should give free entry to youngsters, according to a government-sponsored study.

The report into four science and technology visitor centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee looks at a range of options and concludes that the one giving the best return is free entry for young people, backed by subsidised transport for school groups.

If the government wants to push the long-term aspiration of getting everyone interested in science and technology, the report says, giving universal free access would certainly boost visitor numbers.

Visitors to the Glasgow Science Centre yesterday agreed that admission charges should at least be cut down substantially, if not scrapped altogether.

Karen Knight, mother of four-year-old Brodie, from Pollokshields, said of the ticket cost: "I thought it was a lot of money. If they cut back on the price they'd get more people in . . . it is just too expensive."

Mrs Knight added: "I'd love to see more children in places like this. It's hard to know if they'd learn more if it was free, but it's good even if they just come for fun."

Derek Shields, 40, father of four-year-old Daniel, from Kirkintilloch, said of the centre: "It's not quite school so it's a good way to keep them interested in things."

He said making the centre free "would be good to encourage more people to come".

The report, by economic consultants Halcrow, considers giving free entry to all adults and children, half-price entry for all, free entry for under-18s, free entry for school groups, half-price entry for schools and free transport for schools.

It concentrated on how any subsidy might be targeted in order to provide a maximum return.

Allowing youngsters free entry to all four science centres would in itself be relatively inexpensive, at just 49p for each of the 260,000 extra visits generated.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "We welcome this independent assessment of the Scottish Government's science centres funding programme.

"Ministers will consider the recommendations made in the report and decide in due course how best to support Scotland's science engagement sector, including science centres, festivals and science- centred public events."

The problem for this report is that it arrives on ministerial desks at precisely the wrong time, with the new Finance Secretary John Swinney presenting his first Budget next week against a backdrop of very tight finances, particularly in the first year of the new government.

It points to evidence that removing charges at museums and galleries in 2001 across the UK produced a boom in visitor numbers, so the effect of such a move on the four Scottish science centres should be considered in the same light.

In the case of the freeing up of museums in 2001 the single biggest beneficiary was the Science Museum in London which doubled the number of visitors.

The survey suggests that universal free entry to Glasgow Science Centre would boost visitor numbers fourfold, while Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh would see visitor numbers increase to three times current levels.

However, the report states that in terms of cost effectiveness it might be better to cut or abolish the cost for young people.

"The lowest-cost option, in terms of additional public subsidy, is to allow free entry for under-18s, " the report says.

"The analysis suggests that this option would result in an increase in costs of around GBP0.125m per annum, while at the same time increasing visitor numbers by 65per cent.

"One possible approach to implementation would be the adoption of a staged approach, as introduced by the National Museum of Science and Industry.

"This could involve an initial decision to allow free entry for under-18s and then universal free entry at a later date."

A spokeswoman for Glasgow Science Centre said: "The recommendation, outlined in the Halcrow report, of free entry to science centres makes interesting reading and we will look forward to detailed dialogue with the Scottish Government on this idea.

"It is, however, a proposal which would need thorough investigation.

"Glasgow Science Centre welcomes over 400,000 visitors a year and around 60,000 schoolchildren - figures which are growing every year.

"In common with our colleagues in the Scottish Science Centres Network, it is our mission to enthuse as many people as possible about science and technology, including the all-important scientists of the future - anything that assists us in the work we do is to be welcomed."

Admission prices

GLASGOW Glasgow Science Centre An independent Scottish charity, complex includes Science Mall, Imax Centre and Glasgow Tower. Science mall building contains three floors of interactive exhibits. Admission prices range from GBP6.95 for adult and GBP4.95 for children, for single attraction.

EDINBURGH Our Dynamic Earth Has a variety of interactive features which span past and present science, technology and geography. Ticket Prices range from single entry, adult GBP8.95 and child GBP5.75. Annual Explorer Pass, adult GBP12 and child GBP8.

DUNDEE Sensation Sensation Dundee, pictured right, is the only UK science centre based on the five senses. More than 80 hands-on interactive exhibits. Sensation: Dundee Science centre is a registered education charity which promotes public understanding of science. Prices quoted are day ticket prices. Prices range from adult (16+) GBP6.95 and children GBP4.95.

ABERDEEN Satrosphere Fun, interactive featurefilled science museum. Entry prices: adults GBP5.75, Children (3+) GBP4.50, concessions GBP4.50.

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

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