The long-awaited community theatre for Borehamwood took a step closer to becoming a reality last week, when architects and planners visited the proposed site at Hertswood School.

Hertsmere Borough Council has committed £12,000 to a feasibility study for a theatre at Hertswood's upper site, in Thrift Farm Lane. The scheme would involve converting the school hall into a 200-seat auditorium.

The council's chief executive, Eden Lee, and an architect met theatre campaigner Josie Shingles, of drama group Elstree Productions; Hertswood headteacher Jan Palmer-Sayer and representatives from Elstree and Borehamwood Light Operatic Society last Friday.

The Hertswood site is now the preferred option after the council rejected the idea of resurrecting a scheme to build a theatre next to The Venue, in Elstree Way. The original plan was abandoned in 1999.

Another proposed option, the conversion of the Allum Lane Community Centre was also rejected after trustees of the centre said it was not suitable. Mrs Palmer-Sayer said: "We have to wait and see what comes out of the feasibility study, but the idea of converting the existing school hall into a full-blown auditiorium for school and community use is a very attractive possibility. The facility would be there for the whole community, of which Hertswood is an important part."

The results of the study are expected in four to five weeks. Ultimately, a decision will be put to the council's executive.

If everything goes according to plan, work could start at the site next year and the facility could be open by spring 2008.

Mrs Shingles said: "What they are planning to do there is revolutionary.

"It is a compromise site, but I have high hopes that we will finally get a proper theatre and it is going to be really beautiful.

"My one concern at this stage is the issue of transport three-quarters of our audience are middle-aged or elderly and there are no buses that go up there after 6pm.

"But I am very pleased we have got this far and I'm hopeful about the outcome."