A planning application has been submitted to use Reading Gaol for police firearms training.
The application, submitted by Thames Valley Police (TVP), seeks temporary permission to use the historic site for training exercises.
The application is due to be determined by the Reading Borough council by November 20.
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The prison, which is currently closed, is awaiting development into an education centre by its new owners, the Ziran Education Foundation.
The TVP, however, aims to use the site for classroom, and 'real world' scenario-based training for police officers in some of the existing prison buildings. This would supplement the TVP's existing training facilities at Sulhamstead.
The training will take place once or twice a week between 8am and 4pm.
A maximum of 14 students and six firearms instructors would be on site per day, with blank rounds used for training purposes.
This would mean that no live ammunition will be used.
The application states that the existing layout of the site and buildings will be used, with no alterations proposed.
The site will not be used for additional police training or day-to-day policing purposes.
It follows the successful temporary use of Reading Gaol in 2016 as an art exhibition by Artangel.
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."
Council planning officers have been in pre-application discussions with the TVP, and the application can be viewed on the council's planning portal using application number PL/24/1222.
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