FROXFIELD villagers are pressing for urgent action to be taken so that their vital Stoner Hill link to Petersfield can be reopened as soon as possible. They have enlisted the help of East Hampshire MP Michael Mates, who is to chair an open meeting with Hampshire County Council's highways engineers on Friday, May 12. Villagers have been told the Petersfield to Froxfield road through Stoner Hill will be closed for at least six months following the landslide which took away a third of the carriageway earlier this month. Engineers said it would take several months to assess feasible engineering solutions and the road would remain closed to all vehicles, walkers, cyclists and horse-riders until the autumn. They said the landslide and a smaller one close by were still growing and could take the entire width of the roadway in time. But camapigners calling for the urgent reopening of the road say serious rush-hour congestion is occurring in many surrounding lanes, causing considerable damage to them and the risk of an accident on the narrow roads motorists are being forced to use has been increased. They are also concerned about the affect of long-term closure on the livelihoods of those who live or work in Froxfield and, to some extent, Privett. Villagers claim there is a knock-on effect for Petersfield, as many people are choosing Alton for shopping as it is easier to access. Echoing the feelings of many villagers this week, Ronald Graham-Clarke told The Herald: "The loss of Stoner Hill as the short, direct link between Froxfield and its neighbouring parish, Steep, and thence Petersfield, is having many consequences. Its impact on overheads, profitability, travelling expenses and general living expenses will be felt more and more the longer the closure lasts." Mr Graham-Clarke, who has lived in Froxfield for 45 years, added: "Far more serious is the scenario of an accident that blocks the lanes between the A272 and Froxfield Green at the same time as a fire engine or ambulance is trying to answer an emergency call." "This road is vital to Froxfield. Its residents expect Hampshire County Council to treat this problem with urgency and purpose to ensure that Stoner Hill is reopened as soon as possible." He said access to Petersfield for most of Froxfield and Privett immediately became easier with the building of the new road carved into the hillside in l827. "And the use of High Cross Lane as the main approach to the start of this new road down Stoner Hill increased significantly," he said. As a result, High Cross had "evolved into the parish centre, with the addition, over many years, of the village hall, the recreation ground, the village shop and post office and the development of the Dellfield and Deansdell housing estates". Mr Graham-Clarke added that Stoner Hill, as part of the C18, was also extensively used by traffic between Petersfield, Alton, Alresford and Winchester, including many commuters. With the closure of Stoner Hill, he said, all traffic had to funnel through Froxfield Green and the lanes down to the A272, which were narrow and often did not allow two cars to pass easily without having to drive on the verge. "Serious rush-hour congestion in many lanes is now occurring and considerable damage to them is already noticeable," said Mr Graham- Clarke. In addition, the A272 from the West Meon Hut to Petersfield was taking more traffic, along with the Privett "rat run" along Church Lane and Ridge Common Lane in Steep. "Apart from damage to the lanes, the risk of an accident anywhere in this general area has been increased." Among those affected, said Mr Graham- Clarke, were those who had to pay double for a taxi to Petersfield station from High Cross, Froxfield Stores and post office had lost several regular customers from Steep, small Froxfield businesses, which relied on summer sales, were being particularly affected, and villagers were finding it harder to get to Petersfield for work, shopping doctors' surgeries and rail travel. Mr Mates will chair the open meeting in the parish church at High Cross, starting at 7-30 pm.