“JUST because we happen to have worked longer and harder to afford these houses, does that make our lives worthless?” says the resident of Upper Brook Street, Mayfair.

She demonstrates the proximity of her Georgian townhouse to the fortified American Embassy.

On one side, Filipina maids tend flowerboxes and polish doorknockers. On the other, armed security guards in bulletproof vests stand behind breeze blocks. “It is frightening. I’m not used to seeing men with guns,” says the resident of 20 years. “The council call us fat cats living in expensive houses, but don’t we all have the same right to live in safety and security in quiet enjoyment of our homes?” This week the residents took out a two-page advertisement in The Times calling for Westminster council to close off roads around the Embassy.

Traffic flows freely around the Embassy, a concrete hulk that sits incongruously among millionaires’ houses. Members of the Grosvenor Square Safety Group say that they are unprotected from a potential bomb attack. Critics say that they simply want to make their neighbourhood a private enclave.

Unsatisfied with the £6 million extension of the security cordon, shortly to begin construction, the residents have vowed to protest until Westminster council and the Metropolitan Police agree to close both surrounding streets permanently.

Some embassy officials agree that the free passage of traffic leaves the residential area particularly vulnerable.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Times that she was displeased with council plans for hydraulic bollards that can be raised during periods of high alert.

“It’s going to look like a prison,” she said, adding that the authorities had not even had the decency to match railings with the existing gold ones.

But this is not just about her own multimillion property — ordinary people are in danger too, she emphasised: “Anybody who is walking down the street is at the same risk as us.”

Warming to her theme, she stops a passer-by. But the young woman replies: “You’re so lucky, I’d love to live here” — not quite understanding the point being made.

A neighbour, Thea Haddad, understands, however. “It is going to be like living in the West Bank,” claims the 29-year-old property developer, whose pillared doorstep is not far from the Embassy.

“We pay a lot of money to live here. It is very selfish of them. They have massacred the area. Ruined it.” Ms Haddad claims that her family’s property has been undervalued as a result. She said that moving the Embassy would not be giving in to terrorism, but represent common sense.

The Metropolitan Police insists that permanent road closure would be disproportionate and inconsistent with other security arrangements in London.

Councillor Robert Davis said: “This is wealthy nimbyism. Not everyone has the money to afford double-page adverts in The Times. There are whole estates down in Surrey where you can buy your own private home and build big gates to keep people out, but that is not Central London.”

Mr Davis added that the council was satisfied that the security plans would minimise the terrorist threat, while balancing residents’ concerns with the need to ensure that traffic could flow. “Unfortunately, every pedestrian is at risk in London,” he said, “but as I understand it terrorists are trying to achieve things like the destruction of the Twin Towers. They are not interested in blowing out some baroness’s window in Mayfair.”

One resident is so opposed to the new security barriers that she plans a three-day hunger strike outside her grand front door next week. Countess Anca Vidaeff believes that they will be both ugly and ineffective.

“What is being done is the destruction of the most beautiful historic square in London,” she said. “My property is my pension but I cannot rent or sell my house and my life is in danger.”

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