FoOL Timeline
2015
5th October 2015
Leeds City Council issues an ‘Expressions of Interest Invited’ for the former Otley Lido (commonly known as baths or outdoor pool).
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5th - 17th October 2015
A group of local residents - calling themselves FoOL - start to mobilise in response to the ‘Expressions of Interest Invited’.
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17th October 2015
FoOL's first Facebook post.
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29th October 2015
FoOL's first tweet on Twitter.
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30th October 2015
FoOL visits the lido site for the first time.
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4th November 2015
FoOL meets with Leeds City Council officers and notifies intention to submit a proposal in response to 'Expressions of Interest Invited'.
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10th November 2015
The inaugural meeting of FoOL takes place at The Black Horse.
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17th November 2015
FoOL presents its plans to Otley BID and Otley Chamber of Trade.
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1st December 2015
Attendees agree Constitution, Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association for FoOL.
Leonie Sharp electied as Chair of FoOL.
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9th December 2015
FoOL submits its proposal in response to Leeds City Council's 'Expressions of Interest Invited'.
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26th December 2015
Boxing Day floods on the River Wharfe cause the boundary wall on the lido site to collapse.
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2016
14th January 2016
Leeds City Council grant FoOL a 12 month exclusivity agreement on the lido site.
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16th February 2016
Friends of Otley Lido incorporated as a Community Interest Company with Companies House in England & Wales.
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21st March 2016
FoOL presents its vision to Otley Town Council and secures a grant for £500 to erect hoarding at the site to replace the boundary wall which collapsed as a result of the Boxing Day floods.
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17th April 2016
Philip Longthorn becomes our first benefactor and makes a very generous donation.
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22nd April 2016
FoOL fundraises and engages with the community at the Otley Core.
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25th April 2016
Otley BID agrees to match the £500 grant from Otley Town Council to go towards erecting hoarding on the site to replace the boundary wall which collapsed as a result of the Boxing Day floods.
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26th April 2016
Leeds Community Foundation provides a Food Relief Grant of £2,000
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27th April 2016
FoOL erects hoarding to make the site safe and secure following the collapse of the boundary wall during the Boxing Day floods supported by grants from Otley Town Council and Otley BID.
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28th April 2016
FoOL paints the hoarding in Tour de Yorkshire colours to commemorate Stage 2 of the race starting in Otley on 2nd May 2016.
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28th April 2016
Leeds Community Foundation approves a grant for FoOL.
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5th June 2016
Sport Chevin Family Activity Day – FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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17th June 2016
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School fundraises for FoOL with an ‘Own Clothes Day’.
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18th June 2016
Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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26th June 2016
Otley Lions Club announces FoOL is nominated for the President’s Project for 2016/17
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18th July 2016
FoOL promotional video produced by Catapult Films is released.
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25th July 2016
Stacey Blackwell deploys her sign writing skills on the lido site blacboard.
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27th August 2016
Otley Lions Club announces FoOL as the President’s Project for 2016/17.
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17-18th September 2016
FoOL attend the National Lido Conference at Portishead Lido.
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17th October 2016
Alan Peel Decorators paints the hoarding (on a pro-bono basis) using paint donated by Beks Electrical & Hardware.
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22nd October 2016
Lido Site Hoarding Launch Event – the freshly painted hoarding is launched displaying the FoOL logo, information and 'Lido Memories' panels created by Zeppo Creative and printed by Imageco (all on a pro-bono basis).
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11th November 2016
FoOL fundraises and engages with the community at the Buttercross.
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15th November 2016
FoOL presents an update on the project to the Otley Chamber of Trade.
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22nd November 2016
Aviva Community Fund – FoOL announced as a finalist and later receives a grant.
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4th December 2016
Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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7th-10th December 2016
Otley Christmas Tree Festival - FoOL decorates a tree.
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2017
1st January 2017
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.
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1st January - 26th February 2017
Crowdfunding campaign raises £2,465 with 115 supporters.
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1st-28th February 2017
Waitrose Otley Community Matters – FoOL selected as a charity for Green Token scheme.
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12th February 2017
Otley Lions Club presents FoOL with cheque for £5,000 as recipients of the President’s Project for 2016/17.
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8th April 2017
The Yew Tree Inn hosts a Race Night to raise funds for FoOL.
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6th May 2017
FoOL give a short introduction before the film 'Tomorrow' at an event organised by the Friends of Gallows Hill at the Otley Courthouse Arts Centre.
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20th May 2017
Otley Show - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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28th May 2017
Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon – Tom Wriglesworth plus friends Andy and Nick run to raise money for FoOL.
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25th June 2017
Yorkshire Lido Tour visits the site – FoOL hosts a breakfast.
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25th June 2017
Otley in Bloom Open Garden scheme fundraises for FoOL.
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11th September 2017
Otley Town Council unanimously supports a motion proposed by Cllr Ray Georgeson and seconded by Cllr Mick Bradley and resolves to pledge the final £5,000 top-up needed when the fundraising is within reach of the final target of £55,000 for the feasibility study.
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11th October - 21st December 2017
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.
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13th October 2017
FoOL meets with Leeds City Councillors for Otley & Yeadon Ward (Cllrs Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Sandy Lay), Otley Town Council Chair Ray Georgeson MBE, and representatives of Leeds City Council at Otley Core Resource Centre.
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14th October 2017
FoOL paints the hoarding at the lido site.
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26th October 2017
Otley Carnival announces FoOL as one of its 2018 beneficiaries.
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27th October 2017
FoOL hosts a Fashion Show at the Parish Church in conjunction with Harriets and Little Munchkins.
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3rd December 2017
Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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6th - 9th December 2017
Otley Christmas Tree Festival - FoOL decorates a tree.
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19th December 2017
Frames added to the panels on the site hoarding - to discourage vandalism - using materials donated by B&TS Builders Merchant.
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20th December 2017
First advertising panel installed on site hoarding publicising Courtyard Planters, Bondgate Bakery and Casa Vitae.
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21st December 2017
Second advertising panel installed on site hoarding publicising Little Green Frog.
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2018
3rd May 2018
FoOL supporters Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Sandy Lay re-elected as Members of Leeds City Council for the Otley & Yeadon Ward.​
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6th May 2018
Tour De Yorkshire - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community in Wharfemeadows Park.
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1st - 30th June 2018
Waitrose Otley Community Matters – FoOL selected as a charity for Green Token scheme.
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16th June 2018
Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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4th August 2018
Otley Lido Site Open Day – over 400 visitors attend to see the derelict site, view architect’s concepts, ask questions and listen to guests including Alex Sobel MP (Leeds North West), Cllr Ray Georgeson MBE (Chair, Otley Town Council) and Cllr Ryk Downes (Leeds City Council, Otley & Yeadon Ward)
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7th October 2018
FoOL releases its new promotional video produced by Catapult Films.
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24th October - 27th November 2018
Crowdfunding campaign linked to Aviva Community Fund voting raises £460 with 22 supporters.
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13th November 2018
Otley Skate Park User Group makes donation to FoOL.
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27th November 2018
Aviva Community Fund – FoOL announced as a finalist and later receives a grant.
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2nd December 2018
Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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12-15th December 2018
Otley Christmas Tree Festival - FoOL decorates a tree.
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2019
12th February 2019
FoOL gives a presentation and Q&A session with the Womens’ Institute in Pool-in-Wharfedale.
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2nd May 2019
FoOL supporter Ryk Downes re-elected as Member of Leeds City Council for the Otley & Yeadon Ward.​
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15th June 2019
Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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19th June 2019
Otley in Bloom transforms a flower bed in Wharfemeadows Park is transformed to resemble the fountain in the lido.
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4th August 2019
Pool Feast - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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1st December 2019
Otley Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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2020
20th February 2020
Otley Neighbourhood Plan is adopted after a referendum – the lido site and FoOL is included.
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25th May - 7th June 2020
FoOL runs a colouring and drawing competition providing a resource for children during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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2021
6th May 2021
FoOL supporter Sandy Lay re-elected as Member of Leeds City Council for the Otley & Yeadon Ward.​
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12th July 2021
FoOL meet with Wharfemeadows Bowling Club at the site to discuss temporary expansion of its footprint on the site.
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31st August 2021
Andrew Hillas Properties Ltd kindly sponsors the printing and delivery of flyers advertising the Crowdfunding Campaign.
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8th September 2021
FooL attends a meeting at the lido site with Leeds City Council and two local developers.
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16th September 2021
FoOL paints the hoarding at the lido site.
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20th September 2021
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.
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20th September 2021
Crowdfunding campaign begins.
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21st September 2021
FoOL presentation to the Otley Chamber of Trade.
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22nd September 2021
The Wharfedale Observer leads with an article on FoOL's Crowdfunding Campaign.
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5th October - 2 November 2021
FoOL leases an iconic red telephone box in Market Place for publicity for the crowdfunding campaign - made possible by Otley Town Council offering free hire to community groups.
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8th October 2021
Sport England pledges £10,000 to Crowdfunding campaign.
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18th October 2021
FoOL presents to the Otley Town Council Community Development Committee.
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19th October 2021
Rachel Reeves MP (Leeds West) and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer endorses FoOL.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin endorses FoOL.
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20thOctober 2021
Otley Chamber of Trade pledges £1,000.
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21st October 2021
Otley Town Council re-affirms its vote of 11th September 2017 to pledge the final £5,000 towards the cost of a feasibility study.
Otley BID matches Otley Town Council's pledge of £5,000.
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22nd October 2021
Sport England pledges another £3,500 to Crowdfunding campaign.
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26th October 2021
Alistair Brownlee MBE visits the site for an interview with BBC Look North (Yorkshire) to promote the crowdfunding campaign.
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27th October 2021
Crowdfunding campaign passes target of £53,000 with over 5 days remainin - stretch target of £65,000 set.
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1st November 2021
Crowdfunding campaign ends - £60,711 raised with 876 unique supporters in 42 days.
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11th November 2021
Initial project review with local retired sport & leisure consultant (pro-bono).
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23rd November 2021
Further project review with local retired sport & leisure consultant (pro-bono).
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15th December 2021
Awarded £1,000 grant by Persimmon Community Champions.
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2022
24th January 2022
Further project review with local retired sport & leisure consultant (pro-bono).
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1st March 2022
Full project review with multi-disciplinary team - sport & leisure consultant, architect, engineer, project manager, etc. (pro-bono).
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5th May 2022
FoOL supporter Colin Campbell re-elected as Member of Leeds City Council for the Otley & Yeadon Ward.​
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21st May 2022
Otley Show - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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18th November 2022
FoOL meet with Marie-Claire Spicer (Project Manager) in relation to the Flood Alleviation Scheme and flood risk to the lido site.
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4th December 2022
Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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2023
17th January 2023
FoOL meet at the site with a local civil / structural engineer with over 20 years' experience in the sport and leisure sector (pro-bono).
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20th February 2023
Neal Jeffrey (Building Contractor) repairs the hoarding at the site (on a pro-bono basis) after damage is caused by strong winds.
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21st February 2023
Graffiti Away removes graffiti from the hoarding at the site on a pro-bono basis.
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4th May 2023
FoOL supporter Sandy Lay re-elected as Member of Leeds City Council for the Otley & Yeadon Ward.
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17th June 2023
Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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25th July 2023
FoOL seeks proposals for feasibility study and business planning.
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21st August 2023
Leeds City Council informs FoOL it is likely it shall need to formally review its position in relation to the lido site.
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29th August 2023
Deadline for proposals for feasibility study and business planning.
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31st August 2023
FoOL meets with Wharfemeadows Bowling Club at the site to discuss the project.
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13th September 2023
FMG & Saunders Boston Architects appointed to undertake feasibility study and business planning (subject to positive outcome from review Leeds City Council has indicated it is likely to undertake in relation to the lido site).
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29th September 2023
Leeds City Council formally informs FoOL it needs to review its position in relation to the lido site.
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3rd December 2023
Victorian Fayre - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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​2024
13th February 2024
Emily (E.C.R) Roberts attends FoOL committee meeting for ideas and inspiration for her upcoming lido-based musical - FoOL love the idea and agree to support Emily with publicity.
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19th March 2024
FoOL presents a project update to a meeting of the Otley Chamber of Trade.
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2nd May 2024
FoOL supporter Tracy Brabin is re-elected as Mayor of West Yorkshire.
FoOL supporter Sandy Lay re-elected as Member of Leeds City Council for the Otley & Yeadon Ward.
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18th May 2024
Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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7th June 2024
Drip Drop Theatre performs All Those on Board a new lido-based musical by E.C.R. Roberts to a sell-out audience at Otley Courthouse - FoOL provides a pre-performance introduction and update.
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11th June 2024
Leeds City Council completes its review of the lido site and asks FoOL to produce a business plan later in 2024.
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15th June 2024
Otley Carnival - FoOL fundraises and engages with the community.
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26th June 2024
'Kick off' meeting with Darren Lamb & Tim Mills (FMG) and Nathan Swift (Saunders Boston Architects) for feasibility study and business planning.
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28th June 2024
FoOL announces the appointment of FMG & Saunders Boston Architects to undertake feasibility study and outline business planning.
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4th July 2024
FoOL supporter Katie White OBE elected Member of Parliament for Leeds North West - constituency MP for Otley.
FoOL supporter Alex Sobel elected Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and Headingley.
FoOL supporter Rachel Reeves elected Member of Parliament for Leeds West and Pudsey - appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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8th July 2024
FoOL meets with Darren Lamb and Tim Mills of FMG (sport & leisure consultancy) and representatives of Wharfemadows Bowling Club at the lido site.
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31st August 2024
FoOL paints the hoarding at the lido site.
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7th-13th September 2024
FoOL carries out maintenance on the site including clearing and strimming walkways and paved areas, removing rubbish, trip hazards, etc. and general repairs.
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14th September 2024
Heritage Open Days scheme - FoOL opens the site and has over 630 visitors including Katie White OBE MP, Leeds City Council ward councillors for Otley & Yeadon Ryk Downes and Colin Campbell, Chair of Otley Town Council Richard Hughes and members of the local business community in conjunction with Otley BID and Chamber of Trade.
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