New Ridgeway Council Set to Replace West Berkshire

The Government has announced a shake-up that will see West Berkshire Council replaced by a new Ridgeway Council in two years time. Elections for the new, larger authority will take place next year.

Ridgeway will combine South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils with the West Berkshire unitary authority.

"A lot of work has gone into this," said Mr Brooks. "Tilehurst, Calcot and Holybrook come into Ridgeway so the Reading land grab has failed."

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse will lose a few wards to Oxford City, likely for housebuilding, including the ward that contains the Culham Science Park. Culham Campus is a key part of Science Vale and supports over 3,000 jobs.

Mr Brooks said: "I am delighted for residents and staff of West Berkshire.

"This is a very good result.. This will help create a stronger council.

"While there will be some consolidation of posts at the top of the three councils, all of our staff still need to be there to deliver the day-to-day services of the new Ridgeway Council."

The election for a shadow Ridgeway Council will be in May 27. WBC will exist for one more year with present councillors and abolished in May 2028.

"The decisions announced today will do that and improve local government for over 15 million people. We will see 38 councils operating across these areas in place of the current 134," said Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing.

"This will result in over 250 fewer senior posts and significant salary savings and nearly 3000 fewer councillors,This could save up to £20 million per year on councillor allowances alone across these areas."

There are likely to be 76 councillors in the new council, but no details are available yet on where they will meet or how the new council will run.

Newbury MP Lee Dillon welcomed the announcement: "The best outcome for West Berkshire, and the consultation exercise ran by WBC was excellent, with Councillors getting out across the community to hear concerns," he said. "Now that Council will cover a much bigger footprint it is important the new Council structure allow for local voices to still be heard."

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter