TOWN councillors have reinstated a group that will aim to protect the green space between Woodley and Earley after fears the land would “fall like a pack of cards” to developers.

Woodley Town Council approved a motion from Cllr Coling Lawley to re-establish the Site of Urban Landscape Value Joint Working Party, which will fight to defend land such as Bulmershe Park and work alongside Earley Town Council, at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The land also includes Bulmershe Court Campus, the former Reading University site, where CALA Homes plans to build 290 private and affordable extra-care properties, as well as shops, play areas, and a sports pavilion.

Sites of urban landscape value are defined by Wokingham Borough Council as areas with strong landscape characteristics and also include significant landscape ecological features of value within an urban setting.

The working party had been disbanded in May after what Cllr Lawley called a “miscommunication” between the two councils and added that he fought for more than a decade to protect the land.

The Liberal Democrat fears Woodley and Earley could merge and said: “I challenge the borough to defend this land. Otherwise it will all fall like a pack of cards.

“Re-establishment of joint working with Earley Town Council will be a good step forward. I expect that in the future the two councils, working together, will put up a strong defence to keep this area green.”

Fellow Lib Dem Phil Challis is pleased the working party has been reinstated so quickly.

He said: “The reason this is a special motion is because we’re seeking to reverse a decision that was made less than six months ago.”

Cllr Kay Gilder added: “I am passionate about keeping the green space because of the wildlife that runs throughout the corridor.

“Developers are very keen on taking that land off us. The residents would be on our backs if we allow any of that green space to be developed.”

Conservative councillor Darren Smith would like the working party to have a clear aim and jurisdiction.

He said: “The working party needs reforming and firm terms of reference of what their scope is.

“I think I’d like to suggest that we ask the working party to come up with some terms of reference to make it clear what they’re doing.”