Plans for changes to one of Waltham Forest’s busiest roads as part of the mini-Holland scheme to improve facilities for cyclists were unveiled last night.

Proposals for changes to Ruckholt Road in Leyton, which is used by 25,000 vehicles and 1,000 cyclists a day on average, were presented to the public last night at Leyton Library in High Road.

They include part and fully segregated cycle lanes along the whole road and two additional pedestrian crossings.

Access to York Road will be blocked to cars from Ruckholt Road and Oliver Road, while bus stop ‘islands’ will be created between the cycle lane and the road.

Maud Road will have cycling lanes installed in both directions and cycle-friendly traffic lights will be enable cyclists to move on before cars.

A trial run of a proposed scheme in Walthamstow divided the community, with some saying it created congestion and was unsafe, while others supported the move to improve the environment.

Opinions were also divided on the Ruckholt Road scheme.

Tom Preedy, co-owner of the Bike Shack in Leyton, supports the plans.

He said: “Of course it will be good for us, but it will also be good for the community.

“I think some of the ideas look pretty good, especially the advance cycle traffic lights.

As a cyclist traffic lights can be a bit of an issue.

“It will probably cause disruption in the beginning but, in the long run, it will reduce pollution and alleviate the amount of traffic on the roads.

Steve Williams, 61, from Leyton, also backed the proposal.

He said: “It is a fairly disjointed area for cyclists between the Olympic Park and the High Road.

“The Olympic Park facilities are superb and it will be providing a connection between the two.

“I am fairly confident it will work very well and I hope other people will get the reassurance they want.”

Former Liberal Democrat Councillor Bob Sullivan highlighted concerns about the current plans.

He said: “People who actually live in the area have all picked up the same issues with the scheme.

“There are two major things which must be put right.

“The first is stopping people turning left out of Oliver Road into Ruckholt Road. People will be forced to rat-run through the side streets.

“Secondly, they want to move the bus stop before the High Road into Warren Road.

“The parking spaces in Warren Road are in constant use with people stopping for ten minutes to run to the shop.

“This will be bad for traders if the spaces are replaced with a bus stop.

“I agree with the scheme and the ideas for cyclists, but it cannot be to the detriment of all others.”

Council officers at the meeting said they had been instructed not to speak to the Guardian about the plans.