THAMES Valley Police has submitted an application for temporary use of Reading Gaol for firearms training, Reading Borough Council has announced.
While long-term plans for Reading Gaol, which has been vacant for more than a decade, are still in the early stages, police could use the site for training purposes in the meantime.
Thames Valley Police has applied for a temporary change of planning use for the site, which it hopes to use for practical training for police officers.
Their proposal would see a mixture of classroom-based and scenario-based firearms training in the gaol, alongside their current training facilities in Sulhamstead.
Officers would use some of the site’s existing buildings to create ‘real-world’ scenarios using blank rounds
A maximum of 14 students and six firearms instructors would use the site once or twice a week between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
No alterations would need to be made at the site, as the proposals would make use of its existing layout and buildings.
No additional police training would take place and the site would not be used for day-to-day policing purposes.
The proposals follow previously successful temporary use of Reading Gaol in 2016 as an art exhibition by Artangel.
Council planning officers have been in pre-applications talks with Thames Valley Police, and the application is set to be determined by Wednesday, November 20.
Councillor Micky Leng, Reading Borough Council’s Lead for Planning, said: “As the town awaits more details on how the new owner, Mr Channing Bi, and his associates plan to develop the site, the Council has received this application by Thames Valley Police for a temporary training use.
“The prison, as we know, has been vacant for far too many years since it was abruptly shut down by the Ministry of Justice back in 2013.
“TVP’s application proposes making practical use of what remains a vacant site, pending further progress on a longer-term vision.
“As is always the case, the application will be considered on its planning merits.”
The application is available to view via Reading Borough Council’s planning portal: publicregister.reading.gov.uk
