Sidley Green is getting greener.

But though the county council is pleased with its work some of the neighbours are less than delighted by the change.

As part of the county highways department's new traffic management system for Sidley, which has included one-way systems in three streets, the stopped-up end of All Saints Lane has been turfed and had a tarmac footpath laid along it.

The effect has been to extend and beautify the triangle of grass opposite the Lidl store.

Historically, this is the true Sidley Green '“ not to be confused with the larger area of grass near the New Inn which is commonly referred to as Sidley Green.

But the effect of the change is the loss of car parking spaces used by local flat-dwellers and by Smith and Humphrey's garage.

When the new traffic measures were put out for public consultation attention was focused on the one-way proposals and the new bus layby for Ninfield Road.

Now the turfing of the end of All Saints' Lane has come as a surprise to most people. Worst affected by the change is Andrew Smith, of Smith and Humphrey's garage.

The business supplies new London-style taxis. These are delivered five at a time by a large transporter with trailer.

The only place to off-load the taxis without causing traffic congestion on the A269 Ninfield Road as been the stopped-up end of All Saints' lane.

Andrew said this week: "Sometimes there are five taxis to off-load. It can take half an hour to get all the taxis off the transporter. It is a very long lorry and comes with a trailer as well.

"They (county council representatives) came round when they did the public consultation. He was very nice. We explained the problem about the long vehicles.

"They said they used scale models to access things like how lorries manoeuvre But there is a lot of difference between skidding a model about and manoeuvring a real lorry.

"The result here is, I think, a total waste of public money. It is something that nobody had wanted. You have had nice new houses built across the road with nowhere to park except in that bit of All Saints' Lane.

"The only way we will be able to off-load vehicles now will be by blocking Ninfield Road."

A county council spokesman said: "These improvements are being introduced to improve road safety, reduce congestion, and improve access to local businesses and schools.

"We had an extensive consultation process and spoke to local people and businesses on issues including parking and offloading transporters. Part of the design gives room for transporters to unload and there is plenty of car parking nearby.

"The new grassed area allows room for the southern footway to be widened and for an informal crossing point to be introduced as well as creating a more pleasant environment. The consultation showed that the majority of local people were in favour of widening the footways and improving pedestrian crossing in All Saints Lane."

*Footnote: In a dry week, the new Sidley Green has turned brown.