Is a Third Thames Bridge Finally Possible?

A question has been raised over why Reading Borough Council did not ask for land in Oxfordshire that would enable the creation of a Third Thames Bridge, a scheme that has been discussed for decades and gained fresh impetus after flooding closed Sonning Bridge in 2014.

The proposed bridge would be built for the A329M, linking Thames Valley Park in Earley with Henley Road in Caversham. It is intended to provide an alternative route for ‘through traffic’ — drivers using Reading roads to get onto the M4 — and to divert traffic away from Caversham, the existing bridges, the Inner Distributor Road and the A33.

Any new crossing would need approval from Wokingham Borough Council and South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC). Reading and Wokingham support the plan, but SODC has opposed it.

The debate has been reawakened by the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process, which will see Oxfordshire County Council abolished. Last year Liberal Democrat controlled West Berkshire Council announced it wanted to join with SODC and the Vale of White Horse to create a ‘Ridgeway Council’. That prompted Labour-run Reading to hold consultations on a ‘Greater Reading’ that would cover Tilehurst and Pangbourne, and Reading asked for Tilehurst, Purley and Calcot to be added to Reading if Ridgeway is created.

That has led to questions about whether Reading could have asked for the Eye & Dunsden parish to be incorporated into Greater Reading too, which would have allowed the bridge to proceed without SODC consent. Reading, however, only identified areas in West Berkshire in its submission to the Ministry for Local Government.

On the decision, a council spokesperson said: “The council’s proposal to keep all of Tilehurst in Berkshire was a direct result of the decision by West Berkshire Council to join with proposals from Oxfordshire for a new ‘Ridgeway’ council.

“We would reiterate once again that no Berkshire council was asked to submit reorganisation plans at this time, including Reading or West Berkshire.

“West Berkshire’s decision to form part of Oxfordshire’s reorganisation plans, however, would have a material impact should Reading be required to submit proposals in the future, which is why Reading Council acted.

“It is important to note that Reading’s submission is for a modification to the existing ‘Ridgeway’ plan submitted by Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. It is not a stand-alone reorganisation proposal.

“Reading council’s argument is that the West Berkshire Wards of Tilehurst Birch Copse, Tilehurst & Purley, and Tilehurst South & Holybrook should be moved into Reading and that moving these suburbs of Reading into a predominantly rural new ‘Ridgeway’ contradicts the government’s prescribed criteria that LGR proposals should be based on ‘sensible economic geography.’

“Reading council would give careful consideration to all possible options for reorganisation if and when it is requested by government to submit a future proposal.

“Whilst Reading council has always campaigned for a third bridge, this was not a factor in our LGR discussions. Our focus has been on responding to the unnecessary reorganisation that West Berkshire has proposed, and ensuring that any changes reflect the local economy and geography of Reading.”

There is also a chance the bridge could be enabled by a Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority — a combined authority for Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon — but ministers are encouraging councils to form combined authorities and the earliest that could happen is 2027/28, so any bridge remains years away.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter