HIGH Wycombe town centre has the lowest level of vacant premises for ten years, according to town centre manager Chris Mansfield.

But the town's place in the national retail ratings has slipped for the second time. High Wycombe was 88th of 1,100 centres in 1999. It then fell to 96th place and is now placed at 103, still ahead of Maidenhead and Aylesbury.

Shop vacancies in the town centre are down to five per cent, compared with the national average of more than 11 per cent.

Mr Mansfield said: "We are very much in the top ten per cent which is pretty good. Wycombe has changed a little but other centres, such as Reading and Slough, have changed more in comparison.

"We know from retailers that they see High Wycombe as one of their main areas if they are not already here.

"Demand is very encouraging and we are very confident our ranking is a good sign."

Mr Mansfield said he believed the proposed development of the Western Sector would provide the town with that much-needed improvement.

Richard Paxton, Octagon Centre manager, said: "The centre is 100 per cent let and we have been in that position for a while.

"If we stand still we will slip back. Personally I think the town needs some sort of retail development to remain competitive with other centres."

The latest retailer to come to the town opened its doors in the Chilterns Shopping Centre yesterday.

Barbara Wilkinson, company director and daughter of the firm's founder cut the ribbon to officially mark the opening of the Wilkinson store which took over the former C&A store. It will sell home and garden products.