Protesters are expected outside the town hall this evening (October 22) as the council presents an update on the borough's mini Holland scheme.

Rival petitions from both anti and pro mini Holland groups have gathered thousands of signatures in recent weeks with E17 Streets for All organising a peaceful protest outside the town hall against road closures.

Deputy Leader Clyde Loakes is expected to present an update at a full council meeting on the scheme that has divided opinion in the borough.

Matt Davis, head of the Conservative Group in Waltham Forest, has called on Cllr Loakes to listen to the views of all borough residents and not “just the tiny minority that make up the local cycling campaign”.

An E17 Streets For All spokesperson said:

“Businesses are now joining forces against this scheme as in Lea Bridge Rd, Hoe St and even Orford Rd, they are feeling the effects financially, with longer journeys, lack of parking for deliveries or customers and the congestion on the main roads.

“The Village area mini Holland was supposed to be completed by September 14, with their six month review due to take place in March 2016, although we do not know if this will now take place, what form it will take and whether any changes could be made once the money has been spent.”

On the other side, nearly 200 residents who support mini Holland have written to councillors to show their support in advance of the meeting.

David Giusti, 33, of Folkestone Road, Walthamstow said before the introduction of mini Holland his road was a rat-run.

He said: “Since the closures in the village went in, families have started to bike to school and feel much safer walking in the area. We now have a much better sense of community.

“If you can create this on lots of other roads, right across Walthamstow, the benefits will be huge.”

Kathy Gale, of Greenleaf Road said: “As part of Mini-Holland, the council have widened the pavement and are planting a tree on the corner of the road where I was very badly mugged some years ago.

“Seeing this inspirational scheme create safer, healthier and more beautiful streets means a lot to me.”

Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, waded into the debate saying the consultation for the £33 million scheme and the enforced 20mph speed limit was carried out ‘incorrectly’.

He said: “My constituents are up in arms and I call upon the council to rethink and reconsult on this issue.

“For a matter so important as this, it would be wrong for Labour to force a whip on something that the council should rightly adopt an impartial stance and the local residents should decide and have their voice heard.”