A CEREMONY has taken place to mark the long- awaited reopening of Stoner Hill, after work to rebuild the collapsed road was finally completed. But in the same week, East Hampshire MP Michael Mates has called for repairs to damaged road verges in Froxfield, caused by traffic diverted through the village during the lengthy closure. Stoner Hill was shut in March after a large section of the road collapsed into the valley. It led to fears from traders and residents that the vital link might be closed for good as consultation with English Nature took place. But Hampshire County Council has now finished its £800,000 reconstruction work which has seen the installation of a 100-metre wall of steel reinforcements to support the new surface. And although the reopening has been welcomed by Mr Mates, he has mirrored villagers' concerns that damage to other roads caused by diverted traffic should be repaired as soon as possible. He said: "I am delighted that Stoner Hill is to reopen after the restoration work has been completed. "I am only sorry that I was unable to attend the opening ceremony as I had parliamentary duties in London. "I congratulate Hampshire County Council on getting the job done and for carrying out the delicate negotiations with English Nature. "Now that the road is returned to use, there is a need for the county council to repair the damaged verges around Froxfield which were caused by the diverted traffic." The March landslip was triggered by heavy rainfall following an extended period of unusually dry weather last winter which had caused the ground to shrink and crack. And while the C18 road was being rebuilt by contractor Dean & Dyball, cars were redirected through narrow country lanes in and around the village. But the county council's executive member for environment, Mel Kendal, has vowed to make sure any damage to those routes is rectified. She said: "Once the road has been reopened to traffic, the county council will undertake repairs to any damaged verges around the routes used by diverted traffic during the period of the (Stoner Hill) closure. "This has been a sizeable and complex scheme, compounded by the fact it is an environmentally- sensitive site. "Throughout the scheme, the county council and our contractors have worked closely with English Nature to ensure that the special features of the site of special scientific interest (SSSI) have not been damaged, and that the protected species present in the area (notably bats, badgers and dormice) have not been adversely affected by the construction works. "I'd like to thank residents and traders for their forbearance over the past few months. "They have had some difficult times and I appreciate their co-operation. I have no doubt those inconvenienced by the closure are as pleased as we are that the road will reopen to traffic on schedule."
