Borough council proposes expanding its borders

Reading Borough Council has announced plans to incorporate five neighbouring villages under its jurisdiction.

The proposal would see Purley-on-Thames, Calcot, Pangbourne, Theale and Tilehurst move from the control of West Berkshire Council.

It comes in response to government plans to overhaul local government structures, with a push for councils to meet a new minimum population threshold of 350,000.

West Berkshire Council said the proposal was an "unhelpful and unsolicited attempted land grab".

Ministers argue that larger councils could deliver improved services more efficiently and at lower cost to taxpayers.

Currently, none of Berkshire's six unitary authorities meet the proposed population threshold.

West Berkshire, the largest among them, has a population of roughly half the required figure.

In a surprise move earlier this year, West Berkshire Council announced its intention to merge with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse councils to form a new authority, Ridgeway Council.

The announcement caught many observers off guard, including neighbouring councils.

Labour-run Reading Borough Council has now responded by seeking government approval to absorb the five villages on its western fringe.

It would add approximately 32,000 residents to the town's existing population of about 175,000.

Council leader 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."

While Reading will inevitably loom large in the lives of the people who live on Reading's western fringes, many will no doubt feel a natural affinity to the more rural nature and feel of West Berkshire.

Jeff Brooks, leader of West Berkshire Council, said: "We strongly refute this unhelpful and unsolicited attempted land grab from Reading Borough Council.

"Our eastern communities have long been part of West Berkshire. Our links date back to 1894, when we came together under Bradfield Rural District Council.

"They have never, and should never, fall under the jurisdiction of Reading Borough."

Brooks, a Lib Dem, said he believed his authority offered better value for money and local services than their Reading neighbours, and that the proposal "attempts to blur shopping habits with council effectiveness".

"This move by Reading Borough also begs the question if this is the limit of their ambition, or if they will begin to look at Wokingham's boundary too," he said.

Further details are expected in the coming weeks as Reading prepares to submit its case to central government.

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