'Huddersfield's side streets and arcades are full of interesting shops - we are a town on the up'

"The side streets and arcades are full of interesting shops. We have some of the best independent businesses in the area."

So says Gareth Hughes of Diversions in Huddersfield's Imperial Arcade which is packed with quirky and unusual items, from artwork to action figures. Gareth loves to 'talk up' the town of his birth and says the town centre has a lot going for it these days.

He's based in the Imperial Arcade which he says is "the strongest it has been in years" thanks to new businesses moving in and filling up unused units.

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For those who haven't been into town for a while, he has a simple message. "Come and have a look around the side streets and arcades where there are interesting shops."

As a vinyl records fan, he personally loves The Turntable Coffee and Vinyl cafe and shop in New Street, Huddersfield.

"I love Turntable Vinyl as I'm a record buyer and it has a beautiful cafe with locally made produce."

Gareth says Huddersfield, which is undergoing a number of regeneration projects, is "getting there" - although he believes the changes and improvements may at times feel too slow and piecemeal.

"It always evolves," he says. "It is about offering something different. I had a customer in who said she (liked the shop) as she could get a unique gift."

Other traders have similar stories to tell.

Robert, who was working in Wild Wick in the Packhorse Centre, said: "Business has been pretty good. We are becoming busier than last year. The food quarter upstairs (the recently opened Rate My Takeaway) has brought in more people. They come into the Packhorse, take a look at all the shops and then go into the food court."

Lindsay Foster of Lincoln's Florists in High Street, Huddersfield town centre, said "business has been flying" since she moved from the indoor market, which is currently under redevelopment.

"We are doing way better than when we were in the market. We see footfall and we see it's busy. There's loads of footfall."

She had been planning to take on another member of staff but decided to put this on hold, citing an increase in employer National Insurance contributions as one reason for holding off on recruitment.

She had two small gripes, including the loss of a 'cut through' beside the Queensgate market building site that allowed people to get from the town centre to the University and the ring road. She also claimed that parking charges had risen too much.

"There is no cut through to the University so we have lost money."

She branded parking charges in and around the town centre as 'disgusting' and 'too high'.

Paula McCloury, who is running the newly-opened Huddersfudge in the Imperial Arcade, believes the town centre has a bright future and is looking forward to the various regeneration schemes being completed.

"I think the Packhorse has gone from strength to strength. Rate My Takeaway is amazing. And I thing Imperial Arcade is beautiful. Ant (of Handmade in Huddersfield) has done so much for the arcade.

"I think the regeneration of the market is going to be amazing. I think Huddersfield BID has done wonders for the town."

Paula says it's time to stop 'slagging off' the town centre and start 'bigging it up'.

"Come down and see what's happening. Support your town and the independents."

She added: "Saturdays I have never seen it so busy."

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