COUNCIL leaders and MPs have written to the government to make the case for a greater unitary authority across Reading amid expansion proposals.
Both Cllr Liz Terry, Leader of Reading Borough Council, and Olivia Bailey, MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, have separately written to Jim McMahon, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution.
Each stated the impact on Reading of any proposal which sees West Berkshire joining a local government reorganisation programme within Oxfordshire.
It comes after Oxfordshire County Council submitted interim reorganisation proposals to the government last week.
Two of proposals included plans for the current West Berkshire Council to form part of its reorganisation schemes.
In her letter, Cllr Terry said: “West Berkshire also includes areas that are part of Greater Reading.
“It is important to recognise that the Reading geography does not end with the local authority boundary, which was set over 50 years ago and does not reflect the Reading identity held by many residents or communities in parts of West Berkshire.
“I would ask that this only be considered on the basis that those parts of West Berkshire where residents would more readily identify as being part of Reading become part of a larger Reading Council area.”
Cllr Terry explains in her letter that it was only West Berkshire’s intention to form part of Oxfordshire’s reorganisation plans which prompted her to write to Government.
She said: “(West Berkshire’s Leader) will be unsurprised that Reading would register its interest so as not to disadvantage its position given there is no current plan to reorganise Berkshire Councils.”
Olivia Bailey, MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, said: “Residents in Tilehurst and other communities within the Greater Reading conurbation look towards Reading for services, shopping and leisure – and often raise with me that they feel forgotten by West Berkshire Council.
“If West Berkshire’s proposals to join with parts of Oxfordshire are taken forward, I support Reading Borough Council’s proposals to ensure residents who live in Greater Reading are part of Reading Borough Council.”
