Are you ready for Ridgeway?

New 'Ridgeway Council' proposed for the area

A new unitary council has been proposed which would cover West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.

The new council would build on strong demographic and economic similarities between the three areas and the shared historical ties. This shared history is reflected in the proposed name 'Ridgeway Council' - named after the famous 5,000-year-old footpath that travels through the heart of the three council areas.

Discussions about the proposed new council started in early 2025 and involve West Berkshire Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council. The proposal would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design a new model of local government for the area. It would support the delivery of high-quality services, improve financial resilience and value-for-money and ensure we are able to maintain truly local representation for local people.

A final proposal is expected to be submitted to the Government in summer 2025 with a decision from them expected at some point after November.

There will be opportunities to share your views through May and June 2025. You can find out more about the proposal and the latest development on the Rideway Council Website.

Why a new council?

The proposal is the result of an announcement by the Government which will see two-tier
authorities, as seen in Oxfordshire, end and new unitary councils created. It will also mean unitary authorities will need to serve around 500,000 residents or more, which will require West Berkshire Council - which covers around 170,000 people - to merge with neighbouring councils.