A pride event could be held in Weymouth next year.

A public meeting is planned to take place at The Waverly Community Hub on Abbotsbury Road next week to discuss organising a Pride event in the town.

The meeting will be attended by local councillors, Weymouth BID and community groups.

It comes after Weymouth BID organised a meeting with local councillors and representatives of the LGBT community in March.

Claudia Moore, Chief Operations Officer of Weymouth BID, said: “The idea came about from a meeting I had with councillors and representatives of the LGBT+ community and I am very excited to see how it progresses after the consultation meeting. Businesses that I have spoken to seem very positive about the idea and it will benefit not just our community in terms of equality and diversity, but our economy too.

“The BID Board will receive a funding application for the event in due course from the Pride committee members.”

Alan Mercel-Sanca of The Dorset LGBT Network said a Pride event would help raise awareness and support the town.

He explained: “A Pride event also has year-round benefit for the local LGBT community in highlighting community supportive information, such as signposting, raising community visibility, information resources to assist community members when encountering prejudice, and helping the local authority and public services represent our LGBT community’s voice and needs robustly and clearly.”

A Pride committee will be elected at the meeting to drive the project forward.

Councillor Sandra West is encouraging people to come along and have their say.

She said: “It’s something I’ve wanted to see happen in the area for a while. It’s good for businesses and the community and helps get the message across that the LGBT community are not some sort of strange breed of people.

“I am 100 per cent behind it and will do everything I can to get the ball rolling.

“Come along, have a listen to what we want to do, get behind us and let’s put Weymouth and Portland on the map for a great place to host a Pride event.”

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 10 at The Waverly Community Hub on 121 Abbotsbury Road.

It will begin at 7pm. For more information on Weymouth Gay Group visit their website