AMBITIOUS plans to convert Andover’s former magistrates’ court into a new ‘discovery centre’ are still on the cards - according to council leader Ian Carr.

Test Valley Borough Council splashed out around £500,000 in July last year to purchase the building and the adjacent car park from the Ministry of Justice.

The building is currently being used as temporary storage space by the council, while the car park has already been upgraded into a new public pay and display zone.

However the original plan for the building was to convert into a new public ‘discovery centre’, which could host the town’s library and various other learning resources.

As of yet no progress has been made towards the plans, however TVBC leader Ian Carr told the Andover Advertiser this week that a ‘discovery centre’ is still an option.

He said: “We are still working on what we will do with the Magistrates’ Court.

“When we started the dicovery centre was the original plan.

“Whether the money is there from the county council to do that I don’t know but that was certainly part of the decision.

“We’ve still got a lot of people interested in going in there.”

Plans for the former Magistrates’ Court were up for discussion as part of a review of the council’s Corporate Action Plan by the cabinet on Wednesday.

The development of the site makes up a major part of the plan’s second year aims and Cllr Carr expects progress to be made towards the end of this year.

He said: “We are looking at different ideas to develop a sensible project for the whole of the town.

“The site makes up part of that area with the leisure centre and the discussions for that contract are being done this year.

“When that’s done it will be a good time to look at it.”