Residents have the right to submit questions to borough councillors – and 24 have already been put forward.

The ‘extraordinary’ meeting of the full council was triggered by a petition with 1,777 signatures to save Elms Field, a large portion of which would be bulldozed to make way for new shops and homes as part of Wokingham Borough Council’s plan to regenerate the town centre.

About 300 people are expected to attend Wednesday’s meeting at St Crispin’s School, London Road, Wokingham, at 7.30pm, when the redevelopment and petition will be debated, with a motion proposed and voted on by councillors. Cllr Alistair Corrie, executive member for regeneration on the council’s ruling Conservative administration, said: “We will be answering questions which have been submitted in advance, for half an hour, then the petition will be debated for half an hour, then a motion is proposed and voted on.

“We have to put forward a motion that we all agree on. We will keep amending it or proposing something new until we reach an agreement.” The petition was backed by the borough council’s opposition Liberal Democrat group.

Cllr Prue Bray, leader of the group, who will be summing up the debate in favour of the petition, said: “I’m confident that it will be well attended. I’m not sure we will have enough time to hear all the questions and I’m hoping we will be able to extend it if not all the questions have been asked.” She confirmed the Lib Dems had its own motion to propose.

Commenting on whether there could be a motion not to build on Elms Field, Cllr Corrie said: “There could be a motion asking us not to do any development on Elms Fields, it depends what the motion, it is a possibility.” He added, though, that this was unlikely to be passed. The public must submit questions before 10am on the morning of the meeting, Wednesday, December 4, which can be done via the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/meetings/questionhow or by emailing deomcratic.services@wokingham.gov.uk