Determined Gerrards Cross residents have launched a “fighting fund” to raise cash towards launching legal action against plans to build a multi-storey car park in the town.

More than 100 residents poured into The Memorial Centre in East Common on Tuesday (December 11)  to hear the Gerrards Cross Parking Action Group’s plans for fighting the expansion of the Station Road car park.

A funding pot has now been set up to raise cash towards seeking legal advice about launching a judicial review against South Bucks District Council’s (SBDC) decision to proceed with the “flawed and unrealistic” car park business case.

Numerous concerns were raised about the development – which was approved by SBDC in August – including the 40 -year payback period on a £22 million loan the council plans to take out.

The loan is due to fund the Gerrards Cross police station development, as well as the Station Road car park.

Rhiannon Rowsell, who has helped lead the campaign, raised concerns over the council’s predictions of the “high number” of parking spaces needed in the area, as an independent survey found there were “flaws in the methodology” and the figures are “open to question”.

Dr Rowsell also echoed previous concerns that a proper public consultation had not been carried out, and only one parking option – the Station Road site – had been provided.

Residents have also been working with  Gerrards Cross town council, as well as Network and Chiltern Rail, to explore the possibility of extending the car park next to the town’s train station.

Dr Rowsell said: “Residents have tried very very hard to get councillors to engage in order to consult and to try and get the right solution for Gerrards Cross.

“It seems as if it has fallen on deaf ears. What we have is the multi-storey car park is the only solution and we do not agree with that.

“In summary this is a high-risk investment and it is based on some very questionable assumptions. We don’t feel that this is a good use of our taxpayers’ money.”

Dr Rowsell added she has “seriously looked” at the business case, and fears building the £14 million car park could result in a loss of £4 million to £7 million, as “robust risk analysis” has not been carried out.

SBDC councillors for Denham, Roger Reed and Barry Harding, both turned up to support the action group, with cllr Reed branding the development “vaguely Stalinist”.

He said: “A 40-year payback period – I’m not in the flush of youth as some of you may have noticed -but I have three grandchildren who live in South Bucks.

“If this is agreed they, my grandchildren’s generation, are going to be the ones paying this back.”

However a spokesman for SBDC says the car park will offer a “long term solution” to the increasing demand for parking in the town,  adding the council is “confident” in its business case.

Spokesman, Connie Primmer, said: “Survey evidence confirmed the town has a shortage of off-street parking amounting to some 375 non-commuter car park spaces by 2053.

“Station Road car park was identified as the most suitable for expansion.

“As previously stated, we do not own the land by the railway station. We have had discussions with Chiltern Railways and Network Rail regarding increasing the capacity of the station car park but we cannot do this ourselves as it is not our land.

“We are confident in our business case which was approved by full council.”

Visit http://www.gxparking.uk/ for more information.