Welcome to our May 2017 Update, this is a round-up of all the projects we have been busy with throughout last month.
Otley Events
Otley BID are delighted to have designed & distributed the new Events poster throughout May showing all the large annual events going on in the town throughout the year.
Thank you to Barclays Bank for letting us install a new “Events” window graphic at the traffic lights at the bottom of which will hopefully catch people’s eyes whilst they are crossing this busy junction. We have also printed A4 posters which have been distributed with the Otley Chamber of Trade’s Economic Bulletin, at the Otley Show, around businesses and on our social media – Facebook and Twitter.
You can find all Otley’s events by visiting the new Visit Otley website www.visitotley.co.uk.
Children’s Weekly Entertainment
Following the success of last Summer’s children’s entertainment, we are launching a programme of FREE fun every Wednesday 10am-3pm in the Market Place launching on Wednesday 31st May (Spring Bank week). The style of entertainment will be suitable for toddlers & primary school children and, will be run by Otley BID with support from the fantastic Otley Town Team Volunteers.
There will be a variety of things to do including circus workshops, giant games such as Jenga & Connect4, a petting zoo, crazy golf, bouncy castle, 24 ft climbing wall and yet to be confirmed junior training by Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos, to name but a few.
We would also like to hear from any parents, carers, grandparents who would be happy to give their time and teach the children some new skills, such as playing an instrument, knitting, dancing, painting…basically anything that can be done safely outdoors. If you are interested in getting involved please contact steph.lee@otleybid.co.uk.
Flyers are being produced and distributed around local primary schools, children’s centres, kids clubs, etc, but if you’d like to find out What’s On each week follow us on social media – Facebook and Twitter, and of course all events can be found on the Visit Otley website.
Boats on the River
You will have seen in the recent local press that Chris Thornton from Aura Jewellery’s dream of seeing boats back on the river is nearing reality. Chris has been working closely with LCC, Otley Town Council, the Environment Agency, local councillors as well as ourselves to get this long awaited project off the ground. Before anything is finally confirmed, a meeting will be held with nearby residents to assure them a concerted effort and advance planning has been undertaken to ensure all goes well.
Work has been going on patiently behind the scenes for at least the last 3 years and it has always been part of our 5 Year Plan to make this a reality for the town. It will not only rekindle fond memories for residents but also improve tourism to the town.
We will continue to support Chris in his new venture and we wish him the best of luck.
Photo credit : Dr Neil Clifton
Improving Otley
Painting of Street Furniture
After the success of Phase 1 last year, the Community Payback Scheme are back in Otley undertaking Phase 2 of painting our street furniture. Railings and signposts in the following areas will be re-painted:
- Westgate & Burras Lane up to Waitrose
- All Council owned car parks
- The Bus Station
This scheme has been arranged by Otley BID & LCC have kindly agreed to fund all the equipment and paint used with no charge to Otley. This will lead to more main areas in the town centre being spruced up for the benefit of both residents and visitors to the town.
Police Station
We are also in discussions with the Chief Inspector at Otley to see where improvements can be made to tidy up the area outside the station, to include trimming the hedges, re-instating the Police Station sign, repainting the flagpole, etc.
Signage Around Town
It is one of Otley BID’s key aims to improve signage throughout the town and we are delighted that LCC Traffic Management have agreed to investigate any signage not deemed relevant or past it’s time limit, for example:
- Charles Street : Empty posts which were formally part of the one way system
- Manchester Square : ‘New’ traffic signals
- Bondgate : Yellow signs for Garnett Wharfe housing development
- Burras Lane : Tourism Information pointing in the wrong direction
- Manor Square/Bridge Street : Yellow signs for Garnett Wharfe housing development
- Westgate : Replacement of the crossroad sign.
Otley Show
Otley BID were once again proud to fund the Otley Chamber of Trade marquee at last month’s Otley Show. This enables local businesses to showcase their products and services, at no cost to themselves, to the 1,000’s of visitors who come from all over Yorkshire to attend this fabulous annual event.
Photo credit: Otley Chamber of Trade
Social Media Training for Businesses
As part of our 5 year plan we have always been supportive of helping both new and existing businesses thrive within the town through training and advice workshops. Following the success of the Free Business Advice Workshop organised by the Leeds Enterprise Partnership (LEP) back in March, we have agreed to subsidise the Social Media Training sessions run by Rachelle Atkin at The Yorkshire Marketing Company. This concession applies only to BID levy paying businesses. For more information on these workshops please contact rachelle@theyorkshiremarketingcompany.co.uk.
Photo credit : The Yorkshire Marketing Company
Disabled Access Around Otley
Positive meetings have been taking place recently with LCC’s Highways Department to improve access and mobility around Otley for the disabled. We are hoping that any developments that are agreed can be put in place prior to the judging of Britain in Bloom to really put Otley on the map!
Living Wall
We have been in discussions with Metro, the owners of Orchard Gate and Otley in Bloom to look into the feasibility of creating a ‘living wall’ at the Bus Station. This would create a vibrant, innovative floral scheme which would welcome visitors as they arrive in town, and also be included in our entry for Britain in Bloom.
The benefits of this project are:
- Increased Biodiversity – By using a broad range of plants a green wall can considerably increase the number and variety of insects and birds in a given area, helping to return a more sustainable ecosystem in urban environments.
- Air Purification- During the day plants extract carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and many other toxins from the air during photosynthesis, resulting in significant reductions in CO2levels in well vegetated urban areas.
Photo credit : Studio Seven