Road crossing in Leamington's Parade will get a rainbow-coloured makeover in a show of support for the LGBTQ+ community

The colours will be added in time for this year’s Warwickshire Pride event on August 21
By News Reporter
Published 16th Aug 2021, 16:33 GMT
Updated 16th Aug 2021, 16:34 GMT
The puffin crossing, which is located outside The Pump Rooms, will become Warwickshire’s first rainbow road crossing. Image: Google Street View.The puffin crossing, which is located outside The Pump Rooms, will become Warwickshire’s first rainbow road crossing. Image: Google Street View.
The puffin crossing, which is located outside The Pump Rooms, will become Warwickshire’s first rainbow road crossing. Image: Google Street View.

A new look road crossing will take Pride of place on The Parade in Leamington as it gets a rainbow-coloured makeover.

Following a request from Warwickshire Pride, Warwickshire County Council will be updating the colour scheme of the existing puffin crossing in time for this year’s Warwickshire Pride event on August 21.

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The puffin crossing, which is located outside The Pump Rooms, will become Warwickshire’s first rainbow road crossing.

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Cllr Wallace Redford, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for transport and planning, said: “We want Warwickshire to be a place where everyone feels valued, included, safe and welcome, and as an organisation we place inclusivity at the heart of everything we do.

“I’m delighted that Warwickshire’s first rainbow crossing will be in place before this year’s Warwickshire Pride event and is a way for us to show visible support for Warwickshire’s LGBTQ+ community.

“We are proud to support and celebrate Pride and our LGBTQ+ communities. It’s in a great location on The Parade and will make a long-lasting eye-catching addition to this popular area of Leamington.”

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Daniel Browne, chair of Warwickshire Pride, said: “It's wonderful that Leamington will now have a rainbow crossing. Many other towns and cities around the UK have rainbow crossings and although Warwickshire is catching up, it's great that the county council and partners have agreed to this important, symbolic crossing.

“Pride is a protest. LGBT+ people continue to be discriminated against and experience hate just for being who they are. Even here in Leamington it is not easy to be LGBT+. That's why the rainbow crossing is so important. It sends a strong message that LGBT+ people are welcome here, that the County Council supports the LGBT+ community, and that Warwickshire is moving with the times.

“It is my hope that the rainbow crossing is accepted, celebrated, and that the meaning of it is also recognised.”

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Related topics:WarwickshireWarwickshire County CouncilLeamingtonPrideLGBTQ+