Otley Flashcards
Physical factors
Relief - located in a valley, Chevin is steep - people feel trapped
Drainage - nature reserve Gallows Hill - wetland areas, River Wharfe, risk of flooding
Rural - green, rolling hillsides - healthy outdoor town, attracts hikers, cyclists
Aspect - Chevin to south of Otley, cuts of from rest of Leeds
Human factors
Population - 15,000 - small, close-knit community
Pop. structure - 25% >65 - aging population - infrastructure aimed at elderly people
Ethnicity - 97% white - limited cultural diversity could make people feel like outsiders
How has the built environment changed over time
Garnett’s Wharfe - used to be wool and paper industry - employed 2000 people in 1900. Now mixed housing development, HEP turbine
Otley Mills - Once a textiles mill, now Wharfebank Business Centre - commercial units, mixed housing development
Changing demographics - 2011-21
↓ Working age population (60-50%)
↑ in elderly population
Slight ↓% in white people, still huge majority
↑ in no religion, ↓ Christianity
Stagnant population
Economic and social
Inequality - Weston 2nd most deprived, Cambridge 9th most
Newall-Weston - good/bad area right next to each other - where border is doesn’t necessarily represent actual divide
Top 10 safest towns in Yorkshire
99% A-Level pass rate in 2024
Avg. household income £45k
Avg. house price £290k
Qualitative sources - Surprise view - Kevin Collier
- Insider perspective (Chevin)
- ‘she stays the same’ - Chevin preserves Otley’s character
- ‘merchants and inventors’ - economic character
- ‘railway came and went’ - transport change
Qualitative sources - Moving to Otley - Sue Stanwell
- ‘Dank with dripping fog’ - miserable
- Outsider perspective
- ‘I like it here’ - opinion changed due to charm
Qualitative sources - Annie Lord Blog
- Insider → outsider
- Positive, focus on charm
- Historical roots as market town
- Natural beauty
- Community spirit - welcoming, peaceful, slow pace of life
External Agencies - Otley Town Council
OUR Otley Neighbourhood Plan:
- Maintain heritage + sense of community
- Balance modern growth with historical meaning
- Involve residents in process
- Strong connection for insiders, welcoming for outsiders
Streetvision 2030:
- 20mph at bridge
- Pedestrianisation
- Decrease car pollution by 50%
- Double amount of cyclists
- 1000 new trees
External Agencies - Visit Otley
Tourism-focused - promotes local identity which help visitors connect with Otley on a deeper level
Sustainable tourism + environmental stewardship
Highlights local events like Otley Carnival + Victorian Fayre
