July 2017 Update – Ashfield Works Development, Our AGM, Gateways into Otley, Town Signage & much more

Ashfield Works Development

July 2017 Update – Ashfield Works Development, Our AGM, Gateways into Otley, Town Signage & much more

Welcome to the Otley BID July 2017 Update, which keeps you abreast of BID projects that are currently underway and information that affects our BID levy paying businesses.

 

Ashfield Works Development

A major commercial development on both sides of Westgate is going out for public consultation at Otley Courthouse on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th July 2017. The developers will attend the event to discuss matters and answer questions from businesses owners and residents of Otley. The event is an official Pre-Planning Consultation enabling tweaks to be considered and included before it goes for Planning Permission.

The scheme includes: a supermarket, and a selection of retail, office space, housing, medical and car parking.

The parking will be on the Beech Hill side with a supermarket and a Council car park. Then the area behind Kirkgate will be for offices, shops and a newly established cut-through linking Kirkgate and Westgate.

The fire damaged building will be removed and other heritage premises will be restored as part of the development.

Anyone is welcome to drop into the pre-planning display and ask any questions. The aim of the consultation is to try and resolve any issues before the developers seek planning permission.

The BID understands the drop in session is open anytime between 2pm to 6pm on Thursday 27th July, and 2pm to 8pm on Friday 28th July, but to be certain please check the Otley Courthouse website www.otleycourthouse.org.uk.

 Once the developers seek planning permission the application will be placed on the LCC Portal at https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/ where anyone can have their views recorded for consideration by Planners.

With such a large application it is likely the Council will also ask for major public consultation as part of the planning process.

July 2017 Update - Ashfield Works Development

 

Bay Horse Pub

Following conversations with the original owners, we are now in discussion with the commercial agents who are selling the Bay Horse Pub, Colliers International based in Leeds, to help improve the look of the building and it’s outside space in Bay Horse Court. This has unfortunately taken a little longer than anticipated with the public house recently changing hands and being put up for sale.

We are now in contact with the Site Manager requesting that he improves the look of the building and replants the living wall on the external barn/outbuilding.

As this is a main pedestrian walk way for residents coming into Otley from the River Wharfe side of town, and also a destination shopping area for those visiting the retail outlets in this courtyard, it is important that we keep the area clean and looking attractive.

 

BID AGM

By the time you read this July 2017 Update we will have held our third AGM. If you were unable to attend but would like a copy of the annual accounts they are available by email to steph.lee@otleybid.co.uk and on our website shortly.

In the very near future you, our businesses, have to decide if you want us to continue for a further 5 years (beginning April 2019). Questionnaires will be circulated in October 2017, via Leeds City Council. Please take a few minutes to fill them in and return as we need to know your opinions.

 

Coach Visits to Otley

The number of coaches bringing visitors to our town continues to increase and the BID want to encourage even more.

Steph Lee from the BID and James Ellis from All About The Story (members of the newly formed tourist group in the town) recently spent 3 hours showing the Manager of the Northern & Yorkshire Region, Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT UK) around our beautiful town. The hope is he will assist Otley to become a Coach Accredited Town.

We already have coaches visiting 7 days of the week and this accreditation would encourage even more to choose Otley as an interesting place for coach companies to bring their customers.

Our accreditation application is in the pipeline, watch this space for more information!

 

Gateways Into Otley

We are currently looking at options to recommend improvements to the gateways into our beautiful historic market town.

Ideas include improved and sympathetic signage, artwork, floral displays (particularly as we are being judged by Britain in Bloom this August), as well as looking at the overall look of buildings as you enter the town by car from the various main routes.

If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see as a resident or visitor into Otley, we would like to hear from you. Please email peter.mudge@otleybid.co.uk.

July 2017 Update - Gateways into Otley

 

Otley Police Station

As part of our commitment to improve the look of Otley, we recently met with Police Inspector, Valerie Ogden, who oversees our Police Station’s assets, following our discussions with the Chief Inspector for Leeds.

Inspector Ogden agreed to improve the outside space of the station prior to the important Britain in Bloom judging that is due to happen at the beginning of August. This will include:

  • Tidy up the area outside the station
  • Trimming the hedges and shrubbery around the site
  • Re-instating the Police Station sign
  • Re-painting the flagpole

We are pleased to confirm that at the time of writing this July 2017 Update the work was well underway!

 

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 and are in the process of removing 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.

We hope this work will be completed before the upcoming Britain in Bloom judging.

 

Street Cleaning

We have provided funding towards additional street cleaning in the town which has enabled Otley Town Council to employ Scott Foster as Otley’s Town Caretaker. His duties will be in addition to that already undertaken by LCC, and will include the removal of unsightly weeds and other greenery which has been left to spread over paths and sometimes make them slippy and unsafe in wet weather.

Say ‘hello’ to him if you see him around, his presence has already made a massive improvement to our town. Any suggestions on work needing doing should go via Otley Town Council.

July 2017 Update - Street Cleaning

 

BID Deals

Our new BID Deals Booklet will soon be circulated around the businesses of Otley!

This has been produced to emphasise and help our Otley BID members that there are cost savings that can be achieved by working with other businesses within the town where we have agreed special discounts.

The challenge is for businesses to more than save their BID levy through these savings.

Obviously many businesses already have someone overseeing their savings but hopefully they will ask the local businesses offering these BID Deals to tender when the time arises.

July 2017 Update - Otley BID Deals

 

A Shout Out to Businesses in Otley!

As a business who trades and possibly live within Otley, we would like to hear from you in relation to ideas that you would like to see in place to improve our town.

The BID always has plenty of projects underway but always welcomes more!

However large or small your suggestions are important to us, and we would like to hear them. Please be assured that we will do everything we can to help, but if we don’t know about them we can’t do anything to support you!

Please send your thoughts on email to peter.mudge@otleybid.co.uk.

July 2017 Update - We want to hear from you

New Business Registration

Register today and a member of the BID team will be in touch to book in an onsite visit.