2015

5th October

Leeds City Council issues an ‘Expressions of Interest’ for the site of the old Otley baths.

 

5th - 17th October

A group of local residents - calling themselves FoOL - start to mobilise in response to the ‘Expression of Interest’.

 

17th October

FoOL's first Facebook post.

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30th October

FoOL visits the lido site for the first time.

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4th November

FoOL meets with Leeds City Council officers to register an 'Expression of Interest'.

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10th November

The inaugural meeting of FoOL takes place at The Black Horse.

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26th December

Boxing Day floods on the River Wharfe cause the retaining wall on the lido site to collapse.

 

2016

14th January

Leeds City Council grant FoOL a 12 month exclusivity agreement on the lido site.

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16th February

Friends of Otley Lido incorporated as a Community Interest Company with Companies House in England & Wales.

 

21st March

FoOL secures a grant from Otley Town Council to erect hoarding at the site to replace the retaining wall which collapsed as a result of the Boxing Day floods.

 

17th April

Philip Longthorn becomes our first benefactor and makes a very generous donation.

 

25th April

Otley BID agree to match the grant from Otley Town Council to go towards erecting hoarding on the site to replace the retaining wall which collapsed as a result of the Boxing Day floods.

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27th April

FoOL erects hoarding to make the site safe and secure following the collapse of the retaining wall during the Boxing Day floods.

 

28th April

FoOL paints the hoarding in Tour de Yorkshire colours to commemorate Stage 2 of the race starting in Otley on 2nd May 2016.

 

28th April

Leeds Community Foundation approves a grant for FoOL.

 

5th June

Sport Chevin Family Activity Day – FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

17th June

St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School fundraises for FoOL with an ‘Own Clothes Day’.

 

18th June

Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

27th August

Otley Lions Club announce FoOL as the President’s Project for 2016/17.

 

17th October

Alan Peel Decorators paints the hoarding - at no cost - using paint contributed by Beks Electrical & Hardware.

 

22nd October

Lido Site Hoarding Launch Day – the freshly painted hoarding is launched displaying the Zeppo Creations ‘Lido Memories’ and FoOL logo and information panels all printed at no cost by Imageco.

 

11th November

FoOL fundraises and engages with the community at the Buttercross.

 

22nd November

Aviva Community Fund – FoOL announced as a finalist and later receives a grant.

 

4th December

Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

7th - 10th December

Otley Christmas Tree Festival - FoOL decorates a tree.

 

2017

1st January

New Year’s Day Otley Memorial River Swim in memory of Joe Town - with the kind agreement of Joe’s daughter FoOL fundraises and engages with the community whilst providing hot refreshments.

 

1st January - 26th February

Crowdfunding campaign.

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1st - 28th February

Waitrose Otley Community Matters – FoOL selected as a charity for Green Token scheme.

 

8th April

The Yew Tree Inn hosts a Race Night to raise funds for FoOL.

 

20th May

Otley Show - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

28th May

Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon – Tom Wriglesworth plus friends Andy and Nick run to raise money for FoOL.

 

25th June

Yorkshire Lido Tour visits the site – FoOL hosts a breakfast.

 

25th June

Otley in Bloom fundraises for FoOL.

 

11th September

Otley Town Council resolves to pledge to FoOL the final top-up needed when the fundraising is within reach of the final target of £55,000 for the feasibility study.

 

11th October - 21st December

Community Payback Team clear the site of rubble and rubbish and paint the Farnley Lane side of the building. Leeds City Council's Outer North West Community Committee and Parks & Countryside provide skip facilities.

 

26th October

Otley Carnival announces FoOL as one of its 2018 beneficiaries.

 

27th October

FoOL hosts a Fashion Show at the Parish Church in conjunction with Harriets and Little Munchkins.

 

3rd December

Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

6th - 9th December

Otley Christmas Tree Festival - FoOL decorates a tree. 

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2018

1st - 30th June

Waitrose Otley Community Matters – FoOL selected as a charity for Green Token scheme.

 

16th June

Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

4th August

Otley Lido Site Open Day – over 400 visitors attend to see the derelict site, view the latest architect’s plans, ask questions and listen to guests including Alex Sobel MP (Leeds North West), Cllr Ray Georgeson (Chair of Otley Town Council) and Cllr Ryk Downes (Leeds City Council)

 

24th October - 27th November   Crowdfunding campaign – linked to Aviva Community Fund voting.

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13th November

Otley Skate Park User Group donates to FoOL.

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28th November

Aviva Community Fund – FoOL announced as a finalist and later receives a grant.

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2nd December

Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

12 - 15th December

Otley Christmas Tree Festival - FoOL decorates a tree.

 

2019

12th February

FoOL gives a presentation and Q&A session with the Womens’ Institute in Pool-in-Wharfedale.

 

15th June

Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

8th August

Pool Feast - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

1st December

Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.

 

2020

20th February

Otley Neighbourhood Plan is adopted after a referendum – the lido site is included.

 

25th May - 7th June

FoOL runs a colouring and drawing competition providing a resource for children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

2021

31st August

Andrew Hillas Properties Ltd kindly sponsors the printing and delivery of flyers advertising the Crowdfunding Campaign.

 

8th September

FooL attends a meeting at the lido site with Leeds City Council and two local developers.

 

20th September

Crowdfunding Campaign Launch Event - Baroness Blake of Leeds, Alex Sobel MP and Cllr Richard

Hughes (Chair, Otley Town Council) unveil the new 'fundraising pool' and 'vision' panels on the lido site hoarding.

 

20th September

Crowdfunding Campaign begins.

 

21st September

FoOL presentation to the Otley Chamber of Trade.

 

22nd September

The Wharfedale Observer leads with an article on FoOL's Crowdfunding Campaign.

 

15th December

Awarded £1,000 grant by Persimmon Community Champions