THE consortium tasked with creating a police firearms training facility in Portishead has been revealed.

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Avon and Somerset Constabulary has been given permission to appoint Blue Light Partnership as the force’s associate in the project which will see the creation of a new operational base, two custody and crime investigation centres, two police stations and the tri-force firearms training facility across the force area.

The firearms centre will be used by officers from the Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire constabularies and will be created at Black Rock Quarry off Valley Road.

With two enclosed indoor firing ranges and a means-of-entry tactics house, the centre will be used to train officers to the same standard and promote greater coordination across the forces.

The Blue Light Partnership is made up of Bilfinger Berger Project Investments, Miller Construction, facilities manager Cofely, and designers Haverstock Associates, Ryder Architecture and Scott Wilson.

The project, the funding for which has come from private finance initiatives, will see a total of £71.2million spent on the buildings’ construction, furniture and fittings and the first fit of IT.

The scheme will create 33 apprenticeship opportunities as well as the chance for 16 offenders to be involved in the construction process. Schools and colleges will also have the chance to link up with the programme.

Planning applications are due to be submitted very soon with the aim of beginning construction in September and completing the buildings between January and March of 2014.