A COLONY of naturists fear for their privacy as major work begins to widen the M25 motorway near their club in Bricket Wood.

Owner of Five Acres Country Club Pat Badham says members could be exposed to peeping toms and nosy workmen as they begin to build waste mounds on land surrounding the camp between the M25 motorway and the A405.

Although the bunds are designed to screen neighbouring properties from the noise and view of the motorway, Pat insists they climb to such a height that workmen and ramblers using the public footpaths nearby can peer over the fence and into the camp, endangering their modesty.

Pat said: "We could all be naked and now we have these earth mounds overlooking the whole perimeter of the club.

"We have six residents licensed to live here. This is their main home and they are entitled to be nude all day if they want to, but they can't because workmen and lorries are up those mounds.

"Residents are up in arms because their privacy is being compromised.

"People come here to enjoy being naked and to enjoy the naturist way of life. I think their comfort value is going to be lowered if there is the potential for being overlooked and stared at.

"People like going to clubs with like-minded people, people come to a naturist club to socialise with like-minded people, not the entire world outside."

Pat fears the massive project - contracted out to a consortium led by Skanska Balfour Beatty (SBB) and likely to take to take up to two years to complete - will destroy the peace and tranquility of the camp.

The work, she insists, is already driving business away, with regular visitors cancelling bookings because of the disruption. She has complained of noise, dust clouds and constant vibrations from the machinery since the work began at junction 21A (Bricket Wood) a fortnight ago.

Six residents, who live permanently on the site, have also threatened to move elsewhere if the problem persists.

Pat said: "We advertise peace and tranquility but it isn't going to be like that for two-and-half-years or so.

"The clouds of dust are giving people sore throats, sore eyes, all sorts of things.

"While they do the work it's likely to result in a loss of membership.

"Visitors may come along for a day visit to see what we're about. Once they see and hear all that is going on here they wil look for somewhere else."

Highways Agency spokesman Peter O'Connor said plans for the bunds were included in a public exhibition in March. "Our staff working on that site are very discreet and are aware of sensitivities and would do not anything to compromise nudists' privacy.

"When complete, the environmental bund at Bricket Wood will reduce noise to properties. The bund is being constructed in a sustainable way using waste materials from the M25 widening project such as chalk and clay.

Mr O'Connor added: "Our contractors are now using water to prevent dust escaping into nearby properties, and they have changed their working methods to reduce vehicle noise.

“The Highways Agency and Connect Plus, who are responsible for the work on the agency’s behalf, regret any inconvenience caused by the effects of the work. We wish to work with local communities to address their concerns."