Borough of Runnymede

51°23′42″N 0°32′28″W / 51.395°N 0.541°W / 51.395; -0.541

Borough of Runnymede
Runnymede Bridge, carrying the A30 and M25 over the River Thames near Egham
Runnymede Bridge, carrying the A30 and M25 over the River Thames near Egham
Coat of arms of Borough of Runnymede
Motto: 
In Freedom We Serve
Runnymede shown within Surrey
Runnymede shown within Surrey
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Non-metropolitan countySurrey
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQAddlestone
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyRunnymede Borough Council
 • MPsBen Spencer
Jack Rankin
Area
 • Total
78.0 km2 (30.1 sq mi)
 • Rank220th (of 296)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
92,118
 • Rank263rd (of 296)
 • Density1,180/km2 (3,060/sq mi)
Ethnicity (2021)
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code43UG (ONS)
E07000212 (GSS)
OS grid referenceTQ0149367283

The Borough of Runnymede is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Addlestone and the borough also includes the towns of Chertsey and Egham. The borough is named after Runnymede, a water meadow on the banks of the River Thames near Egham, which is connected with the sealing of Magna Carta by King John in 1215.

It is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt, having some of the most expensive housing in the United Kingdom outside central London, such as the Wentworth Estate at Virginia Water. The M25 motorway which encircles London runs through the borough, with Addlestone, Chertsey and Egham Hythe being inside the M25. At the 2021 Census, the population of the borough was 87,739. With a GDP per capita of £87,277 it is the sixth wealthiest borough in the UK, and the wealthiest outside of London.[2] The UK Competitiveness Index ranks it as the 8th most economically competitive area in the UK, with only London boroughs ahead.[3]

The neighbouring districts are Spelthorne, Elmbridge, Woking, Surrey Heath and Windsor and Maidenhead.

History

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The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering two former districts which were both abolished at the same time:[4][5]

The new district was named after the water meadow of Runnymede on the banks of the Thames at Egham on the northern edge of the borough, which is connected with the sealing of Magna Carta by King John in 1215 and is the site of several significant monuments.[6]

The district was awarded borough status in 1978, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[7]

Governance

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Runnymede Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Surrey County Council. The borough is unparished, so no parish councils exist.[8]

Transport

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Chertsey railway station

The M25 motorway runs through Runnymede from south to north, with junctions at Chertsey and Egham, while train services in the borough are provided by South Western Railway on the Waterloo–Reading line and the Chertsey branch line.

Twinning

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Runnymede is twinned with:[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Runnymede Local Authority (E07000212)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Regional economic activity by gross domestic product, UK: 1998 to 2022". 2022.
  3. ^ "Runnymede Economic Assessment" (PDF). Runnymede Borough Council. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 17 November 2023
  5. ^ "Surrey: Diagram showing administrative boundaries, 1971". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  6. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 3 January 2024
  7. ^ Alteration of status of local authorities June 1977–January 1978 (PDF). London: Department of the Environment. 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Runnymede's Town Twinning Association". Runnymede Borough Council. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
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