RESIDENTS say passing the latest Mini-Holland scheme would “ring the death knell for Enfield”.

People are urgently trying to urge councillors to stop the “mini Holland madness” at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday night.

Politicians will be asked to sign the revised Enfield Town plan, which was completely redesigned earlier this year.

Although the “nightmare” of sending traffic through a two-way Cecil Road has now gone, people say the scheme still chokes traffic into and round the town in one lane.

People also fear the road closures could mean those who live on the route will not be able to receive heavy deliveries and emergency services will not be able to pass through.

John Callen, who lives in Enfield, is furious the scheme will leave only five disabled parking spaces.

He said: “To describe this as a magnificent investment suggests to me that the council is either ignorant or plain stupid.

“This looks like reckless endangerment of the borough as a whole.”

A report by Enfield Council’s own consultants, Regeneris, advised the authority the likely outcome of the scheme would be harmful.

While it is being built, it predicts businesses will decline by between up to one and six per cent and when it is over, takings could still be down by six per cent.

Journey times will go up by up to 13 per cent during peak hours for cars and buses.

Mr Callen added: “If Enfield Town becomes a borough that has towns with businesses closing and travel difficulties it will have an adverse effect in so many ways.

“Has Enfield Council made that clear? Has Enfield Council consulted appropriately? Certainly not.

“Residents need to hold the council and any councillors voting for this culpable and accountable. This is just bad, bad, bad.”

Vic Smith, who owns Vic Smith Beds in Southbury Road, Enfield Town, said: “Whoever implemented this scheme at the council is not in touch with reality. “This scheme will devastate lots of businesses. It will put shops out of business from Enfield town through to Green Lanes.

“It will be devastating to the community, and change the landscape and people’s way of life. So you have to ask, what is it for?

“Who is going to be responsible when the first cyclist loses a life? The scheme is not safe, it’s unjust and immoral.”

Councillor Terry Neville is a major opponent of the proposed scheme and will be addressing cabinet.

He has taken this to Enfield Council's independent auditor, BDO.

He said: “This is one of the biggest disgraces I've seen in my 30 years as a councillor.

"The ‘revised’ cycling proposals for Enfield Town, which have not been the subject of any serious consultation, are fatally flawed inasmuch as the council's own consultants on air quality, traffic modelling and economic impact have all sounded warning bells.”

Enfield Council has been contacted for a comment.