A FLURRY of tourism-related activity is set to take place in Otley over the next few months.

The current Town Council set out its stall of making trade and tourism a top priority when elected in 2015.

That position was reinforced last month when a £50,000 tourism package was announced as part of its 2017-18 budget.

The figure includes match-funding from Otley BID on several big projects plus support from the Town Partnership and Chamber of Trade.

Among the new initiatives is a £20,000 scheme, working with Menston agency All About the Story, to create a brand and logo (plus one-off events) for the town.

Otley's promotional literature is getting a full refresh too, while a destination app - estimated cost £5,000 to £7,000 - is in the pipeline.

The council's Trade and Tourism Chairman Councillor Paul Carter (Lib Dem, West Chevin) says residents and visitors will soon start to see the results.

He said: "In the next couple of months there's going to be a lot happening .

"We'll be creating the new website, logo and brand, launching our Otley Ambassadors - local volunteers whose task will be to promote the town further afield - and bringing out our new Otley leaflet."

Those leaflets, produced with the Town Partnership with a strapline of 'make a day of it', will be distributed to tourist information offices and other venues within a 40 mile radius of Otley.

Otley BID Chairman and Town Partnership Director Stephanie Lee, meanwhile, is delighted the town's 'big four' groups are working as one.

She said: "Finally getting the town to speak with one voice is probably the most important part of all this.

"We have been guilty in the past of all doing our own things but we now have a real partnership. This is the first time that's happened and it makes so much more sense."

She added: "Although we're happy and proud to be part of Leeds city we have an identity of our own, as a traditional market town.

"The tourism initiative is to try to make Otley stand out to attract more visitors - there are one million people living within a ten mile radius, so the potential is huge."

The new council budget will require a 16 per cent - £11.51 more a year for Band D households - rise in the precept, which has caused some to question its value for money.

Cllr Carter, however, is confident of the tourism strategy: "In terms of getting the town's branding and logo that has worked for other places, like Skipton.

"And this kind of destination app, which will have business - linking in with the BID's business directory - as well as tourist information has already been been proven to work in Leeds."