Reading Scales Back Bid to Absorb Parts of West Berkshire After Local Backlash

Reading pares back plan to take in some West Berkshire areas

Reading Borough Council has narrowed a proposal to extend its services into neighbouring West Berkshire. The council says it will continue to seek responsibility for Calcot, Tilehurst and Purley-on-Thames, but it will no longer pursue plans to include Pangbourne or Theale.

All five communities currently sit within West Berkshire. That authority is proposing to join with two Oxfordshire councils as part of a wider local government reorganisation. Councils have until 28 November to submit their own proposals; decisions could be made next summer, with elections for any newly created authorities possibly taking place in May 2027.

West Berkshire, the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire councils are backing the creation of a new body called Ridgeway Council, named after the ancient track that traverses the area. A non-binding referendum organised by Theale Parish Council on 6 November saw 95% of Theale voters who took part indicate they wish to remain within West Berkshire’s boundaries.

Reading’s leader, Liz Terry, will propose at an upcoming council meeting that three Tilehurst-area wards — Tilehurst Birch Copse; Tilehurst and Purley; and Tilehurst South and Holybrook — be transferred to Reading if the Ridgeway Council is established. She said the recommendation follows an "extensive period of work," including public consultation and data modelling.

Reading acknowledged its data and modelling had suggested a case for including Pangbourne and Theale, but said it had "listened to the views of residents" and would not press to include those two communities.

Reaction: West Berkshire Council leader Jeff Brooks welcomed the withdrawal of Pangbourne and Theale, saying it "will come as a great relief" to residents there. He criticised Reading for not giving the same weight to the concerns of people in Tilehurst, Calcot, Purley and Holybrook and accused Reading’s revised proposals of being "shortsighted" and ill-conceived.

The Ridgeway proposal forms part of a broader set of county-wide options under discussion. The councils supporting Ridgeway favour dividing Oxfordshire into two unitary authorities; West Oxfordshire and Cherwell also favour two. Oxford City Council prefers three authorities (including Ridgeway), while Oxfordshire County Council has argued for a single authority to run all county services. The debate will shape any final reorganisation proposals submitted by the 28 November deadline.