Resounding rejection in 'Thexit' referendum

Nearly all of the Theale residents who voted wanted to get services from West Berkshire Council - or what might become of it

The question was a simple one: "Do you wish for Theale to remain within the West Berkshire Council boundary?"

The answer? An unequivocal yes, with 95% of the people who took part in a local referendum on Thursday to see how the village's residents would feel about coming under Reading Borough Council's control saying they would rather stick with West Berkshire Council.

Turnout for the the parish poll was just 25% and the result will not materially change anything anyway as the decision was never going to be binding.

For those behind the referendum though, this was all about sending a message to Reading council: Hands off our bins, schools and council tax, we don't want you.

West Berkshire Council is about to submit plans to the government saying it wants to merge with two Oxfordshire district councils - Vale of the White Horse and South Oxfordshire - to create a new bigger local authority.

If the government gives it the thumbs up, the new authority will be called Ridgeway Council.

This new bigger organisation would almost certainly give West Berkshire more say over how this part of Berkshire would develop over the coming years.

Reading council wants to provide more services beyond the town and into Pangbourne, Theale and other villages

That is something that has alarmed its nearest neighbour, Reading.

Reading wants to counter the idea of a new more powerful authority on its borders by swallowing up the West Berkshire-run villages of Pangbourne, Theale, Tilehurst, Purley-on-Thames and - you guessed it - Theale.

The West Berkshire councillor Alan Macro said Thursday's referendum result was a "categorical rejection" of Reading council's plans.

He said Reading should "accept the democratically expressed will of Theale residents and drop their takeover bid for Theale".

The results of the referendum would not have come as any surprise to the powers that be in Reading.

They are expected to finalise their plan to swallow up Theale and the four other villages on its western fringe in a couple of weeks.

Then it will be up to the government to decide whether or not Reading should get what it wants.

There are likely to be many more twists and turns on this story before we know which way the cards have fallen.