THE doom-mongers have often told us that Skipton is "not what it used to be". Maybe the time has come to look a little more closely at the evidence and there's a strong case for saying that the town is showing strong signs of a vibrant, mixed economy.

Gone are the days when grocers', haberdashers' and tailors' dominated. Times have changed but the range and quality of Skipton's commercial centre testify that far from declining, the town is on the up.

In recent times distinctive shops such as Bootielicious, Tootsies, Spike Island, Dominion and Amoeba have opened. A new delicatessen occupies a corner of Coach Street. Together with the shops which have been there longer, such as Beryl II Shoes, East End and Lotus Petals to name but a few, the Coach Street area has become an enclave rich in the diversity and quality of shops. Indeed many of Skipton's best shops are now just off the High Street itself.

It doesn't end there either. The breadth and diversity of good restaurants is another sign of a town which is flourishing rather than declining. The restaurant/bar Escape above Whitaker's is a welcome addition and soon it will be followed by Nosh, at the other end of town. Added to old favourites like Napier's and Le Caveau it shows that some people have confidence in the future of the town. Skipton is not all charity shops and 'everything a pound' outlets.

One final reason for looking again at Skipton is the service, illustrated by this tale. Requiring the handle for a lid of a Le Creuset saucepan, a shopper called at the cook shop in Albert Square. It did not stock Le Creuset and could order one but that could take up to four weeks. While they were happy to do it, the shop advised the customer he might get it cheaper and more quickly if they contacted the firm direct; here was the number.

In the short term they lost a sale. In the long term they made many. Try getting service like that from the chains.