DRIVERS will now be able to park for longer as the Chantry Centre car park’s opening hours have been extended.

From today (April 23) the multi-storey car park will stay open until 11pm, previously open until 10pm Monday to Saturday, with customers of The Lights and leisure centre often had to make a dash back to their vehicles before it closed.

But Test Valley Borough Council has extended the opening times to enable those eating, drinking, exercising and socialising to stay out for an extra hour.

The council bought the Chantry Centre’s outright, in a deal worth £7.2millon, from Aviva Investors earlier this month, which is a major step forward to undertake a redevelopment of Andover town centre.

The authority is also exploring any immediate opportunities to improve the town centre for shoppers and visitors.

The Sunday opening hours remain unchanged.