Community step in to organise town pride event

A new community group has stepped in to allow a town pride event to go ahead after months of uncertainty.

The group which had run the festival in previous years, Chippenham Pride, was unable to do so this year due to personal commitments.

But after the news "really hit a lot of people hard", a group of locals decided to organise a smaller event called Pride Fest to celebrate the town's LGBTQ+ community through performances and activities.

Pride Fest co-chair and Wiltshire councillor, Liz Alstrom, said: "It's a celebration of love, diversity and inclusion, and people want to feel that sense of community together."

Ms Alstrom said the previous organisers had "really brought the entire community together" with about 5,000 people attending the annual event.

She added: "The reality that the community wouldn't get to celebrate this year actually hit a lot of people really hard because the last few years have been so successful."

Ms Alstrom said: "We've been working pretty much non-stop, we've only had three-and-a-half months to get this planned.

"We're really excited to be able to deliver a fantastic event."

Chippenham Pride Fest will take place from 14 -15 June.

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