• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Monday March 24 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

West Berkshire Council to join forces with Oxfordshire neighbours in boundary shake-up

West Berkshire Council has decided to throw in its lot with two councils in Oxfordshire, as local authorities prepare for the government’s devolution plans.

The authority would join forces with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse councils under the proposal, creating a new unitary authority called Ridgeway Council – named after the neolithic track that passes through all three authority areas.

All three authorities are currently run by Lib Dem administrations.

In a joint statement, the three councils said there are “strong demographic and economic similarities and significant historic ties between West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.”

The current West Berkshire Council serves the towns of Hungerford, Newbury, Thatcham, Theale, and Tilehurst. Vale of the White Horse includes Faringdon and Wantage, while Didcot, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, and Wallingford come under South Oxfordshire Council.

Councillor Jeff Brooks, leader of West Berkshire Council, said: “This initial proposal is the result of some very positive and productive discussions, and I am delighted it has been submitted to the Government for their consideration.

“There is more work to do on the proposal and, importantly, that includes engaging with and listening to our residents and partners.

“It is an exciting proposal and one which I believe will serve our communities very well for future generations.”

The government has set a deadline for final submissions for unitary council proposals no later than 28 November 2025.

It wants local authorities to suggest new combined bodies representing around 500,000 people. The current combined population of Ridgeway Council area is just over 460,000.

If the final proposal is accepted the government’s indicative timeline sets out that the new council could go live in 2028.

Pictured: Uffington White Horse on the ancient Ridgeway. Image by Superdove published under Creative Commons licence.