The world says don't tear up Toad's meadow

HEADLINES across the globe have been informing millions of people about the controversial plan to build a car park in Marsh Meadow, Cookham.

The plan by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to put up the 90 space parking area in the idyllic riverside meadow in Cookham has captured the imagination of the international press, with stories running in papers from the Washington Post to the Melbourne Age.

A master stroke by anti-car park campaigner David Ricardo, 61, helped push the issue into the international spotlight after he made a connection to Kenneth Grahame's Wind in The Willows.

Marsh Meadow is believed to have been one of the inspirations behind the tales of Toad, Badger and Ratty.

The story was spotted by Sue Leeman, who works for an international news agency called American Agency.

She said: 'The literary connection attracted us - another little bit of historic England being tampered with.'

It was not just the heavyweights of the press who showed an interest. One young girl from Ohio, America, sent a three-page letter to Cookham Parish Council after reading the story in her local paper.

She warned: 'It's making a big commotion! You had better save yourself a lot of trouble and not do this parking lot!'

Mr Ricardo, surprised by the sudden global interest, said: 'Every little bit helps our cause, although I'm not entirely confident that the Royal Borough will give this up.'

The Royal Borough said it was pursuing the plan after receiving a positive response from a questionnaire sent to villagers, and support from the Cookham Society.

The plan is expected to go before the council in late autumn.

The world says don't tear up Toad's meadow

HEADLINES across the globe have been informing millions of people about the controversial plan to build a car park in Marsh Meadow, Cookham.

The plan by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to put up the 90 space parking area in the idyllic riverside meadow in Cookham has captured the imagination of the international press, with stories running in papers from the Washington Post to the Melbourne Age.

A master stroke by anti-car park campaigner David Ricardo, 61, helped push the issue into the international spotlight after he made a connection to Kenneth Grahame's Wind in The Willows.

Marsh Meadow is believed to have been one of the inspirations behind the tales of Toad, Badger and Ratty.

The story was spotted by Sue Leeman, who works for an international news agency called American Agency.

She said: 'The literary connection attracted us - another little bit of historic England being tampered with.'

It was not just the heavyweights of the press who showed an interest. One young girl from Ohio, America, sent a three-page letter to Cookham Parish Council after reading the story in her local paper.

She warned: 'It's making a big commotion! You had better save yourself a lot of trouble and not do this parking lot!'

Mr Ricardo, surprised by the sudden global interest, said: 'Every little bit helps our cause, although I'm not entirely confident that the Royal Borough will give this up.'

The Royal Borough said it was pursuing the plan after receiving a positive response from a questionnaire sent to villagers, and support from the Cookham Society.

The plan is expected to go before the council in late autumn.