To not sign this petition? Diagram included

[Whatnowthenfordone]

I live in a small cul-de-sac and my garden gate opens just as a small pedestrian cut turns into the street’s pavement and road. Numbers 1-4 on the diagram are two bedroom terraces, 12 & 13 are 4 bed semis, and the rest are bungalows. The shop is a very small Tesco Express. The green is the pedestrianised cut.

The couple from the bungalow at number 10 have launched a petition to stop access through the cut. I got a letter yesterday from them asking me to sign the petition and have already knocked twice today (waking me up the first time and was making lunch the second time so I haven’t spoken to them).

I don’t want access stopped. I like walking to the shop and elsewhere via the cut and see no reason to have to walk the long way around. On the very rare occasion you might get teenagers going to the shop on their way home who sit on the wall in the cut for a little bit, but not often. I’ve never had any trouble from the cut in the five years I’ve lived here.

But the neighbour said in the letter that the whole street has signed it but me. WIBU to refuse? I really don’t want to have bad blood with the neighbours but given Im one of the two houses which actually fronts onto the cut and don’t have a problem I can’t see what their issue is. WIBU to just hide from her and hope the Council takes no notice of any petition?

Why did it give you anxiety??

You need to find out their reasoning as there must be something else that's causing them to want it closed

You just politely say I’m sorry but I won’t be signing the petition as I like the access and have no problem with it. If they push you more you just state you are sorry but disagree.

Petitions normally begin with an explanatory paragraph. What does this one say?

I don't see anything wrong with the diagram. It's not meant to be art.

It's not nice to belittle someone for the way they draw.

Ah I think I get it - I've spotted the door on shop now. If cut is closed the only way to get to shop is to drive (or walk) to shop parking side.

So it would cut down on randoms parking or just accessing from your cul-de-sac. However it seems a massive cutting off nose to spite your face manoeuvre as it makes it much more difficult from everyone who lives in cul-de-sac to get to shop too.

Do they all shop in Waitrose - or posh north of the border equivalent?

Yes, that’s right.

No idea where they shop. To be honest I just said Tesco so as to not be outing but if a neighbour’s seen this thread then they’ve seen. It’s more a local ‘Molly’s Convenience’ which sells what a little Tesco would - eggs, milk, wine, bread etc. but it’s expensive so can’t imagine anyone is doing any sort of bigger shop there.

‘The residents of X Close would like Y Council to close the pedestrian cut running between X Close and Z Lane. It has caused numerous problems for residents wishing to enjoy the peace and tranquility of our relatively isolated and peaceful neighbourhood. Many of us have lived on X Close for decades, and the rural character of the area is something we value and wish to protect.’

That is it. I don’t know why. I’d have to speak to the couple.

What is their problem with it?

What are these "numerous problems!? You are the nearest so presumably would know best if there were any problems.

In lots of areas around me there a ginnels that are used as short cuts, and they almost invariably come with associated problems - people take their dogs through them to do their business and dont pick it up, groups of youths gather there and cause a disturbance, often there’s antisocial behaviour. Some councils have gated off these ginnels where possible and given residents keys so they can use them, eg on bin day, but they're no longer cut throughs.
Perhaps speak to the neighbours to find out why they want the ginnel gated.

You said the gate to the cut through is your garden.

Presumably your back garden? Do you have high fences?

I assume you have a drive out the other side at the front? You said it's double?

Although no one should make you sign I'm wondering if higher fences and it being behind you mean that you don't see or get disturbed by things your neighbours do?

That is it. I don’t know why. I’d have to speak to the couple

Tbh if I was relatively new to the area and neighbours who'd lived there for decades without asking for the cut to be closed are now doing so, I'd assume there had actually been some problems. I'd want to know what's happened to make them feel so strongly before making my mind up about the petition.

There is nothing wrong with it. It shows what you need to show. I have no idea why people are complaining about it.
It's not an art gallery!

In thought it was an excellent diagramme. I understood what you meant straight away.

Thank you 😅 I genuinely don’t understand what everyone thinks is wrong with it. Looks spot on to me.

I don’t understand why people are taking the piss out of the diagram.

I think they're on a hiding to nothing tbh, especially if they can't even describe the "numerous problems" it's apparently causing.
I can't see a council closing off the path to a shop. How would they physically do it anyway? Build a wall?
Stand your ground and don't sign their daft petition.
I would be tempted to get in first with an email to my councillor and also to share this bonkers plan with the shop owner so they can do the same.

I'd avoid them, keep putting them off. In England, a petition with such a small number of signatures would trigger much response x

LOL I looked at the diagram before reading the text and wondered why there was a big "shoe" in the neighbourhood.

OP - just tell them that you don't agree, you are happy to listen to what they have to say but you won't promise that will influence your opinion.

I imagine people parking up in the cul de sac to go to the shop, possibly kids in cars pissing about after going to the shop for Bucky, hassle in the cut itself, etc. Id guess that your neighbours are being impacted by something otherwise they'd not bother restricting their own access to the shop. You're going to need to ask them!

Diagram is perfectly clear. I'm sure the people at the far end only signed the petition as she was pushy. Don't sign it if you don't want to. Who cares what she thinks about it?

There's nothing wrong with the diagram, I thought it a particularly clear one. Do you struggle with map-reading and similar?

I agree that it would be helpful for you to find out what the “numerous problems” are. My Dad used to live in a village with several such cut-throughs and thought they were great, saved everyone a lot of time. Unless people really are hanging around there late at night, major littering problems, etc. But surely you’d be one of the most affected residents given that your house is right by the cut? Def. speak to No. 1 about it, they’ll know.

I’m not sure about Scotland, in England you can go on the Poilce website and get crime stats for the local area. Can you see if there is anything there?