A HUGELY positive reaction has greeted the news that Trowbridge may host its own pride day to celebrate the LGBT+ community in 2019.

Trowbridge Town Council has appealed for help from the community to investigate if it can put on a Trowbridge pride day next year.

Aby Cooper, the council’s customer service manager, is holding three focus groups to gather ideas and suggestions for the event. She is also looking for businesses to sponsor the pride day.

Chairman for the LGBT staff forum at Wiltshire Council, Dave Payne, said this was a great idea and that a pride event in the town should have happened a long time ago.

“I think this is a brilliant idea and one that is long overdue - I would love to get involved if possible,” said Mr Payne, who runs the forum out of his own time.

“From a personal point of view, as a gay man that grew up in Wiltshire, this can only be a positive thing, not just for the LGBT community but the community as a whole.

“This community has to always travel to pride events, to the likes of Swindon, Bath, Bristol or London, so to have one on your own doorstep would be fantastic.”

Transvestite fashion designer, Kieran McEleny, said that this was a great idea and that if it went ahead, it could do wonders for the local economy.

“This would be a great addition to Trowbridge’s calendar,” said the 22-year-old former Trowbridge resident.

“I would love to be involved in trying to put this together. This is a great opportunity to be part of something special.

“Trowbridge has a lovely, sweet little LGBT community but it is not very well networked. Something like this could help improve that and give people confidence to come forward.

“Wiltshire Council and others need to hop on board. The pink pound (the British gay market) is worth an awful lot of money these days.

“This could bring a lot of people in and it could be very commercially beneficial for the county town - it would be a good statement of intent.”

The initial reaction to this online was, on the whole, very positive - something that pleased the town council.

The town council’s customer service advisor, Mike Holden, said: “We are very pleased with the amount of reaction and feedback we have had so far and we look forward to building upon this with our focus groups.”

The focus groups dates are on Tuesday, September 18, from 6-8pm, Thursday, September 20, from 2-4pm and Monday, October 1, from 7-9pm at Trowbridge Civic Centre.

To get involved and put forward ideas and suggestions email aby.cooper@trowbridge.gov.uk