PLANS are progressing to host a Pride event in Andover this year to celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture.

Andover Pride is due to take place on Saturday, June 22, with a parade and performances in Pocket Park. 

The event is being spearheaded by Andover Town Council, along with Andover College and Test Valley Borough Council. Other organisations including Andover Mind, Andover BID and Andover Community Events and Koala are involved, to name just some. 

Methodist minister Andy Fitchet and entrepreneur Dmitrijs Meiksans are also on board as LGBTQIA+ 'experts', according to the town council. 

Three drag queens have been named in the list of those involved, including Louis Cyfer, Cherry Liqour and Lucy Lucious Lips. 

At a meeting of the town council on Wednesday, February 21, members of the authority were updated on plans for the event. 

The agenda said that partners and stakeholders held a meeting on Friday, February 16 to discuss the event, which is planned to be held in Pocket Park, although it is understood that the space between the leisure centre and The Lights is also under consideration.

The event is planned to have a stage with a number of acts, along with stalls including face painting. Local organisations are also being given the opportunity to have a pitch at the event as well.

The council meeting was told that costs associated to the event have come to £3,500 at this stage. 

Councillors were ask to note the works that have already been undertaken for the Pride event, with Cllr Luigi Gregori and Cllr Katherine Bird proposing and seconding the proposals

Cllr Gregori said: "I think this is quite thorough and many thanks to Cllr [Mark] Farren, the officers and various other people involved for all their hard work getting this off the ground."

Cllr Bird added: "I want to give this project my support as a person and as a councillor. I think it's great and to have this documentation for reference going forward is great. 

"The costs look sensible and I recommend we all support this."

Councillors voted in favour of the proposed date and location of the Andover Pride event, with one abstention.