LEADING bookseller Waterstones is believed to be close to opening a store in Skipton.

The bookseller is believed to have been in advanced talks with Craven District Council for several weeks about moving into premises either in Skipton Town Hall, or next door, in the attached 17-19 High Street.

It is further believed the seller of both mainstream and academic books, wants to incorporate a cafe in its Skipton outlet.

Securing Waterstones will be a major coup for the council, which is currently undergoing a major revamp of the town hall 'complex'.

The first phase, including a new main entrance off Jerry Croft and new public toilets, is due to be completed in May.

Although the council refused to be drawn on whether Waterstones was one of its chosen tenants, its policy committee recently discussed in private future tenancy of the building.

In addition to Waterstones, councillors are also believed to have discussed, and rejected, an offer from a pizza restaurant.

A spokesman for Waterstones confirmed Skipton was a place the company very much wanted to be.

"Skipton is indeed a place where we would like to open a bookshop. As yet we are not able to confirm that we have secured a shop but hope that this will happen in the near future," said the spokesman.

Skipton councillor Robert Heseltine, a member of the council's policy committee, said members had been left in no uncertain terms that they were not to discuss the issue and that confidentially had been 'demanded' of them.

But he added: "Personally, I would very much welcome a Waterstones on the High Street as a high-quality retailer that would lift the cultural offer of the town."

A council spokesman confirmed that the policy committee had considered offers from 'major high-street' organisations for a large retail unit in the town hall and had authorised tenancy negotiations for one of them.

"The areas to the frontages of the Town Hall and 17 to 19 High Street have been marketed as a single unit to maximise the income potential from the Town Hall, which will then be reinvested into the building.

"The offers received demonstrate how much interest there is in coming to Skipton and gave members a difficult decision in choosing between the offers made. It is hoped the council will be able to secure a tenant in the near future and add considerable value to the mix available on the High Street."