School puts in frosted glass... so neighbour can relax in the nude
AS pastimes go it’s definitely not a spectator sport.
And one Angus grandfather has won the right to keep it that way.
Naturist Toni Bogulak has forced a school being built overlooking his Arbroath home to frost a window which would otherwise let primary children see him ‘sunbathing in the buff ’.
The 74-year-old former Royal Army Medical Corps serviceman has enjoyed being naked in nature for around four decades, often taking to his enclosed garden to go au naturel.
But recently plans were revealed for an £8.7million educational building on the playing fields of next-door Muirfield Primary School. Mr Bogulak realised that the blueprints – lodged for planning permission in May – contained designs for a second-floor stairwell window with a fullfrontal view of his favourite sunbathing spot just 30 yards away.
Vexed by the plans and unwilling to give up his lifelong hobby, retired Mr Bogulak went to a planning committee meeting to raise the issue with councillors.
He told them: ‘I have been a naturist for 40 years and if this one window is in the line of sight of my garden then it will affect my ability to occasionally sunbathe in the buff.
‘I have no need to cause offence so I would have no option but to stop being a naturist. It’s something I enjoy. If I can lie in the sun for an hour with no clothes on, it’s better than lying in a tight swimming costume.’
Mr Bogulak lives with his wife, who does not share his passion for outdoors nudity.
He said the issue was ‘just about privacy. I wouldn’t want to worry anyone but I obviously don’t want kids to be able to see through it and say, “What’s that man doing?’’
‘It’s not my intention to scare parents or anyone. I’m not particularly happy with where the school is going in general but I also don’t want to have to stop being a naturist.’
It did not take long for councillors to unanimously agree to install frosted glass – the kind usually used to provide privacy in bathrooms – on the single window.
Mr Bogulak has been generally happy with the council for taking his unusual habits into consideration.
Yesterday, he said: ‘I’m very pleased at the approach taken by Angus Council. I just want the right to do what I want on my own property.
‘I am not one of those crusading naturists like the Naked Rambler. If the council had said no I would just have had to go along with it.’
He added: ‘This really is only an issue of privacy.
‘I suppose I am a naturist that likes occasionally to strip off in my back garden and enjoy the sun. It is something I have done for many years. I spent a lot of time in Africa and got into the habit there.
‘I am not a member of any naturist club and I don’t frequent nudist beaches. I just like taking all my clothes off now and again and being in the fresh air.’
He explained: ‘I brought up the issue when I realised that the new school ... would be so close. I wouldn’t want to frighten anyone.
‘I am not too happy with where they are siting the school but didn’t want to derail the plans in any way.’
Angus Council said: ‘We respect the individual right to privacy but our absolute priority will always be the protection and wellbeing of our young people.
‘As such, we are working to ensure an appropriate solution is in place for the short, medium and long term.’
‘I don’t want to frighten anyone’