Welcome to July 2015 update.
ATCM Annual Conference Visit – Dublin, Birmingham, Warwick, Paignton and Bath were among 35 locations visiting Otley town centre on Thursday 2nd July. The visit was part of the ATCM (Association of Town & City Centre Management) Annual Conference that took place in Leeds this year. The prestigious group of town centre specialists were keen to visit Otley, particularly as we are the first BID market town in West Yorkshire, but also to hear more about Otley BID and the local initiatives we have been working on over the last year.
The group enjoyed the hospitality of The Fleece whilst being welcomed by Otley Chamber of Trade President, Tom Hatley, and Otley Courthouse Chair, David Robson, gave the group a fascinating tour of the Otley Courthouse.
The BID team hopes that, as is common with such visits, this will assist the marketing of the town to draw ever more coach trips and shoppers to Otley. Phone numbers and emails were exchanged enabling future ideas to be shared and problems solved.
Defibrillators – Following a recommendation by Peter Jackson, Landlord of The Otley Tavern Pub, the BID and the Chamber of Trade have shared the cost of purchasing 2 life-saving defibrillators. These will be located centrally within 2 businesses in the town and staff will be trained on how to use them in an attempt to restart the heart should someone have a heart attack. However, it is worth noting that these are public defibrillators which can be used by people with little or no training in the case of an emergency.
Bay Horse Court – To help entice visitors into Bay Horse Court, we have agreed that the wall on the side of For the Home will be re-rendered and a piece of artwork painted onto the wall in a collaboration between Shane Green and Studio 7’s James Davies. The boarded up windows on the side of Chevin Books will also be painted giving the impression of bookshop windows. In addition to this a broken bin will be replaced, we are investigating the possibility of seating in the area, and contacting the local commercial agents to assist in filling the small offices that are currently to let/for sale in the courtyard.
Otley in Bloom – Thank you to Otley in Bloom for the work they have done in providing and maintaining the wooden planters we have funded, which are located on the wall on Bridge Street just above the church.
Business Directory – Interested in being included within the Otley Business Directory free of charge? If you are a BID levy payer please contact Peter Mudge (peter.mudge@otleybid.co.uk) with your contact details if you would like your business including, Peter will then explain what is required. As we have in excess of 500 levy paying businesses, we are prioritising these initially.
Christmas Trees – Can you believe it, we have been busy working on Christmas already! To help facilitate the ‘light up’ of Otley during the festive period, we have agreed to fund 150 Nordmann ‘low needle drop’ Christmas trees via Stephen Smiths Garden Centre. We are also working with Otley Chamber of Trade in the re-tender of the electrical installation of the trees and their lights.
If you are a local electrician with transport who would like to tender for this work, please contact Alan Sowden at Sowdens Plumbers on 01943 466792 or by email alan@sowdens.co.uk
Empty Property – In August we will be focusing on the long-term task of working with landlords and commercial letting agents to fill the empty shops and offices with businesses we would like to see in the town. This will be kicked off with a poll to understand which businesses we feel we need in Otley. Watch our Facebook, Twitter and Website for further information.