Could Greater Reading Council Finally Happen?

A window has opened to revive plans for a 'Greater Reading' council after ministers paused Local Government Reorganisation.

The idea would fold Tilehurst Parish and Calcot into Reading, putting much of the town's urban area under one council for planning, highways, transport and leisure.

The proposal surfaced during talks to end two-tier local authorities. One option would have merged the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils with West Berkshire to create Ridgeway Council.

Reading also asked the government for several West Berkshire wards, including Tilehurst and Purley, to be moved into the borough as part of a 'Two Oxfordshires' proposal.

In July outgoing local government secretary Steve Reed backed the 'Three Oxfordshires' model, an apparent rejection of Greater Reading. Angela Rayner, reappointed as local government secretary under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, announced a review and a pause on 7 September.

The pause could put Greater Reading back on the agenda.

"The council notes the announcement by government that it intends to pause and review plans for Local Government Reorganisation.

"Once finalised, these new council areas are likely to be in place for many decades to come, so it makes sense to take some time to ensure the decisions are the right ones and that they reflect the government's own priorities.

"For Reading's part, the pause provides a further opportunity to discuss our case with the Secretary of State and to reiterate the rationale behind our call for changes to be made to our western boundary.

"We maintain Reading should be at the forefront of any future decisions on reorganisation, whether in Berkshire or across the wider region."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter