Proposals to extend a multi-storey car park in Gerrards Cross have been slammed by residents who have likened the new design to a “giant cheese grater”.

Plans submitted to South Bucks District Council in November proposed to extend the Station Road car park to five storeys, with an additional 328 spaces.

It came after the council carried out a capacity study last year, which bosses said identified a need for increased car parking facilities in the town.

However the proposal has received 76 objections, with residents concerned the extension will turn the street into a “dark, unpleasant and unfriendly” road, and encourage anti-social behaviour.

Some said the “short-term fix” would make traffic problems in the town worse.

The application was due to be discussed at the planning meeting this afternoon, but was removed from the agenda yesterday “at the applicant’s request in order to allow them time to seek to address issues raised in the Highway Authority’s consultation response”, according to an email from the council.

Resident Keith Edwards said: “We do think that additional car parking is required in Gerrards Cross, but not the additional 328 being proposed, in one location, in a massive ‘multi-storey car-buncle’ which, because of its nature, is likely to attract anti-social behaviour as well as changing the essential character of Gerrards Cross.

“[The proposed design] is much higher than adjacent buildings. We want to tell the council to rethink the approach to improve it. We can do a lot better than this.

“I feel like they are letting the local community down because it feels like they are putting the biggest, cheapest, ugliest car park on council land, because it is their site.

“They are not doing the best for the community. We want parking that enhances Gerrards Cross.”

Another resident, Susan Zatland, said the design resembled “a cross between a giant cheese grater and a prison”.

She said: “I think that there is an exciting opportunity for the council to be forward-looking, responsible for an eco-friendly development that enhances a place like Gerrards Cross.

“They should not let this through just because it seems the easy option.”

And Stuart Bland accused the council of not publicising the plan enough, which he believes would have attracted even more objections.

He said: “There have been a considerable number of objections to this development demonstrating a significant level of local concern.

“We feel that there would have been many more objections had there been more notification and publicity...”

A South Bucks District Council spokesman said: “Consideration of the Station Road car park has been rescheduled for a future date yet to be determined.

“The application, submitted by Balfour Beatty, was due to be discussed at the council’s January 18 planning committee but has been put back to allow further information to be provided.”