Traffic levels in Walthamstow Village have been halved since the introduction of the Mini-Holland scheme, a study suggests.

A letter, sent to residents in the area by Waltham Forest council late last week, claimed traffic levels have dropped by 56 per cent since the cycle scheme was launched.

The figure represented a decrease from a daily average of 25,706 vehicles using streets where traffic levels were recorded, to just 11,190 after Mini-Holland was completed.

The biggest drop in traffic was recorded in Copeland Road, which is now used by an average of 69 vehicles per day compared to 2,625 before the scheme, a decrease of 97 per cent.

Eden Road also saw a 92 per cent drop in through traffic, down from an average of 648 before the introduction on Mini-Holland to 52 afterwards.

However, traffic did increase on nearby main roads during the study, with the number of vehicles using Hoe Street each day up by 3 per cent and Lea Bridge Road up 11 per cent.

The letter to residents also said there had been no reported traffic accidents in the Village between September 2015 and April 2016.

There had been 15 recorded crashes on roads in the area in the three years prior to the launch of Mini-Holland.

Despite a drop in traffic levels in some areas of Walthamstow, the scheme, which aims to promote cycling by closing a series of roads, has proved divisive.

Closures have drawn criticism from some quarters for a perceived increase in emergency service response times and concerns for local business.

Its launch in Walthamstow Village in September 2015 was met by angry protests featuring scores of residents objecting to the road closures.

Protesters from campaign group E17 Streets 4 All carried a coffin marked with the words: “R.I.P Walthamstow Village” through Orford Road.

The scheme is now expected to be rolled-out across the rest of the borough, despite protests from residents in Chingford over plans to close Endlebury Road.