The Tourist Information Centre in Skipton crashed to earth with a bang last October. Hit by a financial crisis, it was forced to move out of its splendid premises in Craven Court, which cost it £140,000 a year to run. Instead, visitors wanting information about the town and its environs were directed to an unmanned table full of leaflets in the Town Hall.

It was a far-from-ideal arrangement for a town which has increasingly set out its stall to attract tourists. They must have been surprised and disappointed to discover that the "Gateway to the Dales" had no TIC to furnish them with information on what to see and where to stay.

Skipton needs to encourage visitors from outside the area more than ever at present, with many of its traditional customers from the farming community kept at home by foot and mouth and the livestock market suspended.

So it is excellent news that the TIC has now re-opened at a new site in Coach Street thanks to a transfusion of cash from the Craven Counts regeneration project, the Chamber of Trade and various local businesses (including the T&A's sister paper the Craven Herald) which clearly have recognised the value to the entire community of a TIC and have put their hands in their pockets to make it possible.

That there is a demand for it has been made plain enough by the 1,000 people who have visited it in the four days since it opened. It now has a key job to do in helping visitors to Airedale feel welcome and keeping them happy despite the troubles which currently beset the rural areas.