Concerned residents are blaming the Mini Holland scheme for a collision that left a Walthamstow resident in hospital.

Steve Lowe witnessed the aftermath of a collision on Thursday March 15 between a bin lorry and an elderly woman on a mobility scooter in Eden Road, Walthamstow. He responded to a Met Police witness appeal about the incident at the time, providing images he took at the scene.

In 2015, Mr Lowe had sent a warning email to the council, saying the pattern of road closures meant a collision was "bound to happen."

Mr Lowe sent images of the March 15 collision along with a letter to Waltham Forest Council on Friday March 16, asking the council for a response to the incident.

In the letter, Mr Lowe said: “Necessary car access is made confusing and difficult by the pattern of road closures and the attendance of emergency vehicles is quite possibly compromised by the road closures.”

He added: “Misleading, incorrect and missing traffic signage and road markings make me question the council’s professional standards of knowledge, competence and care.”

He is yet to hear back from the council on the issue.

Champions of the Mini Holland scheme say traffic levels in Walthamstow fell by half in the year following the scheme’s introduction.

They also say the cycling scheme is working to tackle obesity and a lack of exercise among Walthamstow residents.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader of Waltham Forest Council and Cabinet member for highways, said: "I am concerned whenever I hear of an incident like this on our roads – keeping residents safe is our main priority. This incident is still being investigated by the police, and I hope the individual involved is making a full recovery. 

“We will not have the full details of the incident until the police have finished their investigation. I'm sure you will understand therefore that it would be premature to comment further at this time."