Reading Council Disappointed by Boundary Decision

Reading Borough Council says it is disappointed after the Government confirmed plans to create a new 'Ridgeway' unitary council as part of its Oxfordshire local government reorganisation, without agreeing to review Reading's western boundary.

The decision creates three unitary councils for Oxfordshire and would see Ridgeway incorporate the current footprint of West Berkshire Council.

Reading's proposed amendment to move the West Berkshire wards of Tilehurst Birch Copse, Tilehurst & Purley, and Tilehurst South & Holybrook into Reading was not agreed.

The council says the three Tilehurst wards are suburbs of Reading, rely on its services and that placing them in a predominantly rural Ridgeway council goes against the Government's criteria that LGR proposals should be based on 'sensible economic geography.'

Commenting on yesterday's confirmation from Government that there will be no boundary review for Reading, council leader Liz Terry said: "This is obviously a disappointing decision from Reading's perspective.

"Our western boundary line was created well over a century ago and for many years now it has failed to reflect the reality of patterns of daily living.

"We know that Tilehurst residents living in West Berkshire rely heavily on Reading's services.

"The LGR process was an opportunity to put that right by fundamentally strengthening local democracy and aligning where people pay their council tax and where decisions are made, with local identity, local services and those patterns of daily living.

"People who know Reading will understand that these wards are already effectively suburbs of the town and have been for many years.

"The council awaits further information on how this decision was reached and will consider its position and seek opportunities to make its case again.

"Reading has a hugely powerful economy and is an economic driver for the region and economy nationally.

"We believe our outlook mirrors the Government's own ambitions for economic growth to be driven by our towns and cities and Reading should be at the forefront of any future decisions on reorganisation in Berkshire."

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter