VILLAGERS who wrote to Prince Charles in a desperate attempt to halt the destruction of their picturesque surroundings have reacted with disappointment after he refused to get involved.

The residents of Hastingwood appealed to the Prince to help them restore their quality of life, which they say is still declining despite 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.

The Hastingwood Action Group claim that many of their problems stem from skip hire firm GBN, who have a plant in the village and whose lorries use the narrow country lanes.

They hoped that the Prince might take an interest in their plight given his fondness for rural matters and in their letter to him, the group wrote: “We have continuously reported these problems to progressively higher authorities since at least 1985.

Unfortunately , our complaints have been ignored. “Sir, we would be very grateful if you would please give us some form of help and support, as we do not want our hamlet to be yet another village lost to England, further diminishing our green belt.”

But resident Viv Chipperfield received a letter from Clarence House this week, stating: “It was kind of you to write as you did with your deeply felt concerns, but for reasons which I am sure you will understand, His Royal Highness’ position precludes him from becoming personally involved in such matters.”

Hastingwood Resident John White said: “We’re bitterly disappointed. I think if he came here and saw it himself he’d see what we mean, but I doubt he even got to look at the letter. One of his women at Clarence House probably did it for him – it just seems like a stock answer to me.

“We will go on fighting to get what we want.”