John Rowland wrote:
I live on a residential suburban London road used by many cars as a cut
through, despite the fact that there are no jams to speak of on the main
roads in my area....

I don't want the council to alter the geometry of the junction. I want them
to either turn the width restrictions into barriers, or remove the width
restrictions and put barriers where it will be easier to do three-point
turns. Or, best of all, to locate barriers through the neighbourhood such
that through routes will still exist to enable us residents to get out in
any direction, but they will be so zigzaggy that no-one will use the
neighbourghood as a cut through any more....

I know that there are many neighbourhoods where cul-de-sacking has occurred.
They tend to be the poshest neighbourhoods or the scummiest neighbourhoods,
but not the in-between neighbourhoods. I live in an in-between
neighbourhood. How do councils decide which neighbourhoods to cul-de-sack?

I think the 'scummy' neighbourhoods get regenerated by an initiative
that doesn't come from the residents. The posher neighbourhoods
contain people who shout loudly until they get what they want.

How will it affect property values? Will my neighbourhood become posher? Or
scummier?

Posher, probably. Certainly quieter.

Has my idea about leaving through routes but making them zigzaggy been
performed anywhere?

Usually by accident.

What's my best next step - going to the council, or trying to organise
neighbours or start petitions? Printing up posters for people's windows and
distributing them?

Any of the above. In the end you have to persuade the council to bid
for money to do your idea rather than someone else's. Getting
councillors on your side is essential. As there's a scheme already,
try to find out whose idea it is.

And whatever they do, tell them to exempt cycles.

Colin McKenzie