The political map of Wokingham and its surrounding villages has been redrawn ahead of full council elections in May.
Previously, a third of the representatives on Wokingham Borough Council are voted for in an annual election cycle, but this year the whole council will be up for election – with 54 seats being up for grabs.
The news comes after the Boundary Commission for England has redrawn the political map of the borough.
Wokingham Town is one area that has seen the least changes, as the names for the borough wards are unchanged. But the number of councillors representing Wokingham will increase from 11 to 12, as Wescott ward will gain a councillor.
Perhaps the biggest ward rebrand is the creation of a new ‘Thames ward’ covering Sonning, Wargrave, Charvil and Ruscombe.
Neighbouring Reading Borough also has a Thames ward which straddles the river.
The map has also been significantly redrawn in Earley and Woodley, with the creation of the Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates and the Bulmershe & Coronation wards.
Areas which previously had individual councillors have been amalgamated, which is the case with the new wards of Barkham & Arborfield and Spencers Wood & Swallowfield.
Each area will get three councillors across the board, as opposed to the three, two and one member wards currently in place.
The existing boundaries will remain until the council is recessed for the election on Thursday, May 2.
After this year’s election, 18 councillors will be voted for in each subsequent election.
The council has the power to decide whether the election cycle is conducted on an annual or four-year election basis.
Wokingham Borough Council’s previous Conservative administration advocated for four-year elections in 2022, but the change was scrapped when the Liberal Democrats took power in May of that year.
