VILLAGERS who have seen their quality of life deteriorate for a quarter of a century have written in desperation to the Prince of Wales.

They say that years of protest against creeping industrialisation, the growth of traffic on the M11 and at Stansted Airport, and the sheer number of vehicles now passing through their village, have achieved nothing.

So, in a move that will strike a chord with villagers across the county, the residents of Hastingwood have gone over the heads of the politicians with a cry for help to Prince Charles.

According to the Hastingwood Action Group, many of their problems stem from the continuous growth of skip hire firm GBN at their plant in the village which the group says will spell disaster if it is not halted.

The company moved to the site six years ago and, since then, locals say they have been under siege from large industrial lorries which thunder down their quiet country lanes, shaking houses, ruining verges and putting pedestrians in danger.

During just 12 days late last year, a survey counted more than 32,000 vehicles passing through the tiny village, including 91 that were as heavy as any allowed on British roads.

In their appeal to the Prince, residents John White and Viv Chipperfield of Hastingwood Road, said: “These companies also create a vast amount of noise and pollution. In fact during the summer we cannot even bear to open our windows because of the racket, dust and odour we must endure. This filth has also lead to a huge increase in vermin and other pests found in the area to the point where they have even started to invade our own gardens.”

“Surely our children should be living in a safe tranquil country village and not find themselves playing on an industrial site.”

Mr White added: “I just don’t recognise Hastingwood anymore. Its not just happening here, Nazeing, and other villages are also under siege, we should be preserving these pretty villages not letting them become industrialised, dirty and a thing of the past.”

Their actions are being watched with interest by other residents groups including Theydon Bois Action Group (TBAG), who successfully halted the dumping of thousands of tons of waste material at the Blunts Farm site.

Jackie Dodman from TBAG said that there was strength in numbers.

She added: ”We have joined forces with other resident and action groups, locally and nationally, on various issues and hopefully have made a difference. It can be a long battle but residents should continue to fight for what they believe is right.”

GBN Managing director Gary Hobson was unavailable for comment.