A COUNCIL blunder meant signs put on a road that is part of its Mini-Holland scheme actually barred cyclists.

The scheme was introduced by Waltham Forest Council last September to encourage people to cycle by making certain zones bicycle only.

The signs, in Orford Road in Walthamstow, did not comply with Waltham Forest Council’s own traffic management order until they were amended last month.

The council also issued 14,894 penalty charge notices to drivers using Orford Road between May 2015 and July 2016.

The issue with the signs was brought to light after a taxi driver got fined for driving on the road and questioned if the signs were correct.

Heather Rawlinson, from North Chingford, drove through the road which allows only buses from 10am until 10pm.

Heather, 56, said: “I feel so angry that the council have taken nearly £1million in fines and they knew that the signs were not compliant with the traffic management order.

“They made me feel stupid as a motorist that I didn’t know what I was doing.

“There were other cars going through the road when I got the ticket so are we all stupid?

“I will now be writing to them for a refund and wold encourage other drivers to do the same.”

The Mini-Holland scheme was introduced in Walthamstow last September to encourage people to cycle.

But the signs on Orford Road prohibited cycles and vehicles from entering.

The signs, which featured a red circle with white in the middle, meant that only pedal cycles being pushed were allowed through between 10am and 10pm.

Because cycles are considered vehicles, they were not allowed through.

Laurence Younger, owner of Queens Arms pub in Orford Road, said because drivers do not understand the signs they do not slow down.

He said: “There’s a sign but drivers don’t understand it.

“It is a partly pedestrianised road and the pedestrians are looking out for buses but not for cars.

“Cars drive up at 20 and 30 miles per hour and it is dangerous.”

Deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, Cllr Clyde Loakes, said: “The signs used originally were the only ones we could use at the time under the Department for Transport’s Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 legislation.

“This legislation did not allow us to use a combination of the ‘No Motor Vehicles’ sign with the car and motorcycle symbol with the supplementary plate underneath.

“The new Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 legislation, which came into force in April, does permit the use of the more recognised ‘No Motor Vehicles’ sign with a supplementary plate underneath, so we updated our signage as soon as possible to make it clearer for everyone.”

Patrick Khan, manager of Eat 17 on Orford Road, said a lack of parking on the Mini-Holland road means customers end up cancelling their reservations.

He said: “We have one or two people cancelling their bookings every week.

“Customers tell us the real issue is a lack of parking and they have a big issue with fines.

“We used to have parking in front of the restaurant but since last summer we don’t.

“Some more parking in a side road would help.”

The signs on Orford Road, which were amended on July 15 to include a picture of a motorbike and car, are compliant with the traffic management order.