Update: As it is now after noon on 1 April 2025, we can reveal this was the 2025 EALING.NEWS April Fool’s Day story.
In a move described by one Hillingdon councillor as “bold, innovative, and completely real,” the London boroughs of Ealing and Hillingdon have announced plans to merge, forming a new administrative entity to be known as Ealingdon.
The decision, revealed in a joint press release issued early Tuesday morning, would see the two West London boroughs combine resources, services, and street signage by 2026, pending approval from central government and, reportedly, “the stars aligning.”
The proposed merger has taken many by surprise — not least the residents, many of whom were unaware their boroughs were considering a constitutional coupling. “I thought this was a joke,” said one confused commuter at South Ruislip station. “Then I realised what day it was, and I was still confused.”
A spokesperson for Ealing Council described the move as “a logical next step” in West London’s development. “We already share many challenges — potholes, overflowing recycling bins, and people moaning about transportation. It just makes sense to tackle them together under a bold new identity.”
Hillingdon Council leader Councillor R. U. Reel said the merger would allow for “streamlined governance, shared community values, and the immediate doubling of opportunities to misplace local council paperwork.”
Early proposals suggest that the new borough would operate under a hybrid system, with alternating council meetings held in Ealing’s Perceval House and Hillingdon’s Uxbridge Civic Centre, and disagreements settled in Northolt via arm wrestling or best-of-three rock-paper-scissors.
A draft crest unveiled this morning features a red London bus flanked by a pair of disgruntled foxes, above a Latin motto which loosely translates as “We tried our best, honest.”
Reaction on social media was swift, with some residents expressing concern over potential postcode confusion. One user posted: “I didn’t move to W5 just to end up in UB hell.” Another questioned whether a name like “Ealingdon” might lead to increased road rage and the potential collapse of local pub quiz boundaries.
Transport for London said it was “monitoring the situation,” while also admitting that any changes to borough borders “won’t be reflected on the Tube map until at least 2037.”
The first official day of the new borough is set for February 30th, 2026, with public consultation running until exactly noon today.
