A video has emerged of a medic complaining his ambulance could not reach a stroke victim due to Mini Holland road closures.

The incident took place on the evening September 20, following a meeting at the Walthamstow Islamic Centre, in Grove Road, at which residents were discussing the cycle scheme.

A man was taken ill shortly after the meeting, suffering from a stroke. An ambulance arrived at the scene within 11 minutes, but spent time taking a detour around the block after running into the road closures.

In footage filmed once an ambulance had arrived at the centre obtained by the Guardian, a witness is heard to ask the paramedic: “So it is because of the road closures you couldn’t come through?”

The medic replies: “We couldn’t get through, we are not from this area, point is, I didn’t know Grove Road was closed or the other roads because I haven’t been here for ages.”

Christine Greig, who witnessed the incident, said: “The ambulance got stuck at the bollards and had to drive off again.

“This was a stroke victim, there is a window in which to save someone and we could see him getting worse before our eyes.

“I want safer cycling, my husband is a cyclist, but Mini Holland is causing a number of knock-on effects.

“The more frightening thing than the gridlock is the effect it could have on emergency services.”

The man was eventually taken by ambulance crews to receive treatment and spent several weeks in hospital. He has since been discharged to continue his recovery at home.

Assistant director of operations for London Ambulance Service Natasha Wills said: “We are working with Waltham Forest council to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.

“We continue to monitor the situation and talk to the council about any issues that arise. We always aim to mitigate against road closures, identifying alternative routes where possible and ensuring that our crews are made aware of them.”

Cllr Clyde Loakes, Waltham Forest deputy leader, said: “It is vitally important for us to make the emergency services – ambulance services, police and fire brigade – aware of any road changes in the borough.

“When the council makes any changes to road layouts, the emergency services are referred to as statutory consultees.

“This means that that we consult with them, and if they raise objections about proposed schemes we have to reconsider our plans.

“All changes brought about by the Mini-Holland Programme have been through this process, and to date the emergency services have not raised any objections.

“I am not aware of this incident from September 20 being raised with us previously, so it is difficult to comment further on the individual circumstances.”