Vandals strike Otley Lido twice in two weeks

Friends of Otley Lido (FoOLs) have expressed their “disappointment and concern” after the hoardings surrounding the site were damaged on Wednesday evening.

The group believes someone must have had a very “sharp instrument” to cut out out a section of the boards.

The latest vandalism to Otley Lido, in Wharfmeadows Park, follows damage caused to the site last week when “obscene” graffiti was sprayed across the hoardings.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reported on how the community united to clean off the markings. Leonie Sharp, chair of FoOLs, said: “The damage we have suffered to the hoarding is incredibly upsetting but also costly for us as a group made up of volunteers and community members.

“But a more pressing concern is that whoever damaged the hoarding this time must have done so with either a very sharp knife or similar tool. The fact that someone has been in the park at dusk with this kind of implement is very worrying.”

FoOLs have reported the criminal damage and their concerns for public safety to the police and are asking members of the community to keep an eye on the site as well.

Otley Lido was a popular community swimming pool and was open for nearly 70 years before closing in 1993.

Now FoOLs want to have the site restored and are raising funds to turn it into an all-year round heated swimming baths and leisure facility. The group said the boards will be repaired but at a “serious cost” to their fund-raising efforts.

They are calling for residents to vote for them in the Aviva Community Fund which could see the project win £25,000 in funding. Voting closes at midday today at www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/16-1543