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Thursday, June 17, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Help to Buy for Elms Field homes
Picnic gathering marks this year’s Wokingham Pride
NEWS | 5
EXCLUSIVE By LAURA SCARDARELLA lscardarella@wokingham.today
SUPPORT is being offered to first time buyers looking to move into a new Wokingham town centre development. The government-backed Help to Buy scheme is available at the Landmark Square development on Elms Field. Under the scheme, buyers need a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage. The rest is an equity loan, offered interest free for the first five years, and repayable on the sale of the home. Rob Allen, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes Southern, said it was a fantastic option for people looking to move. “The government-backed scheme is a fantastic stepping stone with just a 5% deposit required, providing an opportunity for young couples to secure a first home together, or allowing renters to find a home of their own,” he said. Prices at Landmark Square start at £275,000, with four-bedroom homes from £799,000. � For more details, log on to www.dwh.co.uk/offers/ help-to-buy-2021
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PLANS are being made for a bigger and better Wokingham Pride following last year’s covid-affected launch event.
And the community is already rallying round to show their support: among others, street artist Catsy is lending a paw. The event on Saturday, July 10, starts with a gathering outside Wokingham Town Hall from 11.30am. Then there will be a picnic in Elms Field from noon. Participants are asked to bring their own food and drink to enjoy. It marks a step-up from last year’s event, which was just a gathering around Wokingham town hall and an online gathering due to the country being in the throes of the first round of coronavirus pandemic. Shops and businesses also displayed a rainbow flag in their windows, something that will happen again this year. Rachel Bishop-Firth (Lib Dem), Wokingham Borough Councillor and admin for the Wokingham LGBTQ+ Pride group, is looking forward to this year’s event being bigger and stressed that it was for all to enjoy. “The event is for everyone in the community who wants to show their
ALLIES: Street artist Catsy and the Oxfam store in Peach Street are backing the Wokingham Pride event next month
support for Wokingham Pride and our LGBTQ+ community,” she said. “Please come along with a picnic or support one of our great local businesses by buying a takeaway in town to bring to Elms Field.” The plans for this year will allow many participants to meet for the first time. “We held a small event last year but it was mostly online, so this year we’re really excited to be holding our
first ever face-to-face event to give the community a chance to meet new people and to feel welcomed and supported in the borough.” She explained they have also received “good support” from churches and schools in the area. Alongside the event, Wokingham Library will be providing information on charities and support groups and highlighting LGBT+ authors and subjects. Cllr Bishop-Firth said that they
have made “huge progress” on working towards equality. She said: “There is still work to be done though, in particular, the transgender community is facing the same kind of attacks that gay men and lesbians faced in the 1980s so we hope that this event will help to build understanding between all parts of our community.” � To volunteer or find out more about the event, visit the Wokingham Pride Facebook group.
