There have been mixed reactions in the area as a new Ridgeway Council is set to be created in the coming years.
This council is set to be made as part of the abolition of Oxfordshire County Council and the lower-tier authorities in favour of three new unitary authorities that will all have the same powers.
It takes its name from The Ridgeway National Trail, which runs through the area from Wantage through West Berkshire up to Thame in Oxfordshire.
Ridgeway will be made up of West Berkshire Council and the majority of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse district councils.
The new council will be created in 2028 thanks to the reorganisation of authorities initiated by the Labour government.
An attempt by Reading Borough Council to transfer Tilehurst, Calcot and Purley -currently in West Berkshire – into a Greater Reading authority was rejected.
While some have welcomed the creation of Ridgeway, leaders in the existing councils said they are deeply disappointed with the decision.
Olivia Bailey, Labour MP for Reading West & Mid Berkshire, represents Tilehurst, Calcot, Pangbourne and villages along the Ridgeway, which will all be governed by the new council once it is created.
She said: “I am aware that this change will impact many of my constituents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire, and my priority continues to be to stand up for residents through this process and making sure they get the best possible services from their council.
“Whatever the future shape of the council, it’s important that all residents are well represented and get the attention and services they deserve.”
Jeff Brooks (Liberal Democrats, Thatcham West), the leader of West Berkshire Council, had accused Reading council of a land grab.
A commenter called ‘Al Thing’ said: “Excellent. Keep Reading Borough Council’s hands off Tilehurst and Calcot.”
On the other hand, Charles Croal commented on Facebook: “The Great Ridgeway Land Grab seems to have been a great success. We have no idea what services or council tax will be like in this new Frankenstein Council.”
The leaders of the current district councils are disappointed that Ridgeway will not be as big as originally intended.
While South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse had proposed Ridgeway in the first place, they favoured ‘a two council’ model which covered the entire area of the three constituent councils, with an ‘Oxford & Shires’ council covering the eponymous city, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell.
Instead, Steve Reed, the Labour local government secretary, selected a three council model, uniting West Oxfordshire and Cherwell into North Oxfordshire, a Greater Oxford council covering the city and its surroundings, and Ridgeway, albeit in a reduced form.
Both Maggie Filipova-Rivers, the leader of South Oxfordshire District Council and Bethia Thomas, leader of the Vale of White Horse, expressed disappointment as they will lose 25 parishes and nine parishes respectively to Greater Oxford.
Cllr Filipova-Rivers (Liberal Democrats, Goring) said: “While we acknowledge the Government has made its decision, we remain concerned that the chosen model will not achieve the aims that local government reorganisation was intended to deliver.
“At a time when councils face significant financial pressures, creating three new authorities risks additional complexity, duplicated costs and reduced economies of scale, resources that should instead be directed towards protecting frontline services.”
Cllr Thomas (Liberal Democrats, Faringdon) said: “Many residents raised concerns during the consultation process about retaining the unique character of the Vale’s villages, protecting our countryside, and ensuring rural voices are not overshadowed by the priorities of a larger urban area. Those concerns remain valid and should continue to be heard and respected.
“Many of our rural communities will now be brought into a unitary authority focused on Oxford City. This will impact over 23,000 residents, and I will be seeking utmost reassurance that any changes are carried out sensitively and with local voices in mind.”
