West Berkshire | |
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 Shown withinBerkshire | |
| Coordinates:51°24′03″N1°19′25″W / 51.4009°N 1.3235°W /51.4009; -1.3235 | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South East England |
| Ceremonial county | Berkshire |
| Status | Unitary authority |
| Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
| Admin HQ | Newbury |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Body | West Berkshire Council |
| • Leadership | Leader & Cabinet (Liberal Democrat) |
| • MPs | |
| Area | |
• Total | 271.88 sq mi (704.17 km2) |
| • Rank | 47th(of 296) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 165,112 |
| • Rank | 129th(of 296) |
| • Density | 607.29/sq mi (234.48/km2) |
| Ethnicity(2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion(2021) | |
| • Religion | List
|
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| ISO 3166 code | GB-WBK |
| ONS code | 00MB (ONS) E06000037 (GSS) |
| OS grid reference | SU4705467146 |
| Website | www |
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West Berkshire is aunitary authority area in the ceremonial county ofBerkshire, England. It is administered fromNewbury byWest Berkshire Council.
The district of Newbury was formed on 1 April 1974, as a merger of the borough of Newbury,Bradfield Rural District,Hungerford Rural District andNewbury Rural District, along with part ofWantage Rural District.
Until 1 April 1998, Newbury District Council and BerkshireCounty council were responsible for the region at local government level. On 1 April 1998, Berkshire County Council was abolished and Newbury District Council changed its name to West Berkshire Council and took on the former County Council's responsibilities within its area.
West Berkshire is semi-rural in character, with most of the population living in the woodedKennet valley.
Natural England divides England into distinct National Character Areas based on landscape, biodiversity and cultural attributes. The northern part of West Berkshire falls within theBerkshire Downs (the Berkshire and Marlborough Downs NCA 116), while most of the southern part is classfied as part of theThames Basin Heaths (NCA 129). There are also relatively small areas of theHampshire Downs (NCA 130), theChiltern Hills (though none of the Chilterns National Landscape; NCA 110) and theThames Valley (NCA 115).[2] Around three-quarters of the land is designatedNorth Wessex Downs National Landscape (orArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
Apart from Newbury, the other main centres in the district includeThatcham,Hungerford,Pangbourne andLambourn. Larger villages includeBurghfield,Mortimer andHermitage. 30% of the population resides in the east of the district, these towns and villages includingTilehurst,Theale,Purley-on-Thames andCalcot which form part of theReading/Wokingham Urban Area. West Berkshire bordersHampshire to the south,Wiltshire to the west,Oxfordshire to the north and both theReading andWokingham authorities to the east.
The highest point in southeast/south-central England is located in West Berkshire atWalbury Hill with a summit height of 297 m (974 ft) 2 km to the south of the village ofInkpen, though the hill is not particularly prominent.
West Berkshire has a number of water courses running through the area. In addition to theRiver Thames, there are the RiversLambourn,Kennet,Pang,Bourne and theKennet and Avon Canal and a number of tributaries that feed these rivers. Properties within flood plains may be at risk of flooding from rising river waters or from water coming up through the ground in some periods of heavy and/or prolonged periods of rain.[3] Purley and Pangbourne are particularly at risk.[4]
West Berkshire has the 21st largest economy in England,[5] characterised by low unemployment, above average wages, and abundance of jobs in technology and financial sectors. The presence ofVodafone has created a cluster of around 80 mobile phone related businesses in Newbury,[5] while theLambourn area is the second most important centre for the racehorse industry inGreat Britain, employing over 800 people directly, and producing an annual income of £20 million.[6]
Other companies with operations in West Berkshire includeAtomic Weapons Establishment (nearAldermaston),Bayer andPepsiCo.
Thecoat of arms for West Berkshire was established in 1974 for Newbury District Council. Upon the creation of the unitary authority it was inherited by West Berkshire Council.
The colours of red and gold in the arms represent industry and the richness of the area, whilst the interwoven cross represents theweaving industry which was important to Newbury in past centuries. The corn on the shield represents the agriculture industry which is important to the area, whilst the cogwheels represent manufacturing and manufacturing achievement. The mural crown representslocal government and the grassy mount symbolises thedowns of the surrounding area. Finally, the horseman represents the twobattles of Newbury in theEnglish Civil War.
West Berkshire Council is the local authority for the area, based at the Council Offices on Market Street in Newbury.
The district is divided between theNewbury andReading West and Mid Berkshire parliamentary constituencies, the latter also extending into parts ofReading Borough.
There are 10 state-fundedsecondary schools operating in West Berkshire as well as numerousprimary schools and aspecial school provision. There are also a number ofprivate schools.
Further andhigher education in the area is provided byNewbury College, however there are nouniversities, the nearest being theUniversity of Reading and one of theUniversity of West London campuses, both in the neighbouring Reading Borough.
The area is served byBBC South andITV Meridian with television signals received from theHannington TV transmitter.[7]
Radio stations for the area are:
Local newspapers for the area is theNewbury Weekly News andNewbury & Thatcham Chronicle.
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