NEW plans have been lodged to turn an “underused” community hall into Andover’s first driving test theory centre.

Pearson Vue, who run theory tests for the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), has set its sights on converting The Rendezvous on Union Street into a full-time test centre for learner drivers.

The DVSA says the Test Valley Borough Council-owned community hall already hosts “occasional”

theory tests – which candidates have to pass alongside a practical driving exam in order to obtain a licence.

However, if plans are accepted, the for-hire facility will be converted into a permanent test centre. The plans are a boost for learner drivers, who currently face a 36-mile round trip to the nearest theory test centre in Salisbury or a 60-mile round trip to Southampton.

However the news has been met with a mixed response from Andover Town Council chairman, Katherine Bird.

The mother-of-two believes the plans are good for the town, but has raised some concern over the loss of The Rendezvous as a ground-floor community space.

She said: “I think it’s great that it could become a driving test theory centre because we have got a growing population in the town.

“The Rendezvous is significantly underused, but there are groups that do use it and the town council sometimes use it for meetings.

“It’s a good facility to have because it’s the only ground floor facility in the town centre. It would be a shame to lose it, particularly as the Guildhall has limited access for people with mobility issues.”

Councillor Peter Giddings, economic portfolio holder, said: “The number of community facilities the council owns in Andover has increased in recent years, with more buildings being constructed as part of the new residential communities.

“Examples of this are in East Anton, with the Augusta Park Community Centre and Sports Pavilion and also in Picket Twenty with the Community Centre and Sports Pavilion. All these are large buildings.

“The Rendezvous, located in Union Street, is our smallest venue and has not proved popular with hirers.

“One of the reasons for this is that it is located very close to the council’s more popular Upper Guildhall venue.

“The Rendezvous was little used until last year, when it started to be hired as a venue for driving theory tests.

“As part of the council’s ambition to attract more business into the town centre, it is currently exploring a request for exclusive use of this facility to deliver more driving theory training from Andover. The Planning Application is one part of this process.”