Councillors in Reading are to be asked to consider a proposal to press the Government to allow expansion of the borough.
The council’s policy committee will consider the suggestion to bring a number of West Berkshire wards into the Reading borough at its July 21 meeting. It comes in the light of the Government’s reorganisation of local authorities and West Berkshire’s plan to team up with Oxfordshire councils to form the new Ridgeway authority.
An initial outline proposal is for Calcot, Tilehurst, Theale, Pangbourne and Purley-on-Thames wards to move from West Berkshire into an expanded Reading.
Council leader Cllr Liz Terry said: “There is no doubt many residents on the western fringes of Reading look to the town, whether for work, transport connections, higher education, shopping or to use other facilities. In that respect, these are already suburbs of Reading and clearly fall within its economic catchment area.
“It isn’t clear where the new ‘Ridgeway’ council will be based, but I doubt people will want to travel into Oxfordshire to a location potentially 20 plus miles away, when Reading town centre is no more than six miles away with an excellent bus service.
“The Government’s clear guidance is that reorganisation plans should focus on sensible economic areas, and it is important proposals do not ignore the natural boundaries and connections of the town. It therefore makes more sense to link these urban areas to Reading, which we would argue is a better match.
“None of the Berkshire authorities, including West Berkshire, have been asked by Government to submit reorganisation plans at this time, but it is very clear that the proposals for a new ‘Ridgeway’ council would have a material impact on any proposals Reading may be required to submit in the future.
“Our belief is that Oxfordshire’s final reorganisation proposals for the creation of a new ‘Ridgeway’ council should be considered by the Secretary of State in conjunction with a review of existing boundaries between Reading and West Berkshire, because one markedly affects the other.
“The Government responded to Oxfordshire’s three interim reorganisation proposals in June by stressing the importance of proposals meeting the criteria for reorganisation, and the need to consider the implications of any proposal on the wider area. In response, we will be making the case that only an expanded Reading can properly reflect its economic geography.”
If councillors decide to go ahead, Reading will make its formal approach in November.
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