Jeremy Clarkson’s plans to open a Diddly Squat restaurant at his farm have been backed by neighbours of the Top Gear star.
The Clarkson’s Farm presenter had planned to open a new restaurant and a whopping 70-space car park at the site of his Diddly Squat farm.
Jeremy’s 1,000-acre farm in Oxfordshire features on his smash-hit Amazon Prime series, Clarkson’s Farm, which sees Jeremy learn how to farm.
Clarkson said he was “very” frustrated after his local council in Oxfordshire refused to accept his plans to build a restaurant at the site.
However, Jeremy has won the support of fellow farmers, food producers and residents in the area near Chadwick, Oxfordshire.
(Image: Amazon Prime)
Pete Ledbury, a farmer who lives just a few miles from Jeremy’s Diddly Squat Farm said turning down Jeremy’s project doesn’t help create more jobs.
He told The Guardian: “We know that we have to diversify to make a living and create more jobs for the countryside.
“Turning down projects like this doesn’t help. I think it’s pretty shortsighted of the planners”.
His wife Emma revealed their farm has lost 40 of their 100-strong herd of cattle after a bout of tuberculosis.
(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
She said: “British farming is a mess”
Max Abbot, the owner of Sourdough Revolution baker in Lechdale, hoped to supply bread to Clarkson’s cafe.
He argued: “Jeremy is employing people, bringing in money. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea but what the council is doing seems absurd.”
The Top Gear presenter wanted to sell his own milk, butter and cream at the restaurant.
(Image: Adam Hughes / SWNS)
Victoria Steffens, who works at the village shop in Chadlington, added Clarkson is like “marmite”, but she believes he provides jobs in the local area.
It comes after Jeremy attended a meeting held by West Oxfordshire District Council’s planning sub-committee on Monday (January 10).
Despite his efforts to convince the councillors the restaurant was beneficial to local farmers, seven out of ten councillors voted against the proposal.
He had insisted: “Farmers are not going to be able to do that for much longer because of the farmers’s state of finances. We have been told as farmers to diversify — that is exactly what this proposal is.”
(Image: Amazon Prime)
Over 50 objections to Jeremy’s proposed eatery were issued to the council – with some citing fears of increased traffic in the village as the show’s become so popular with the public.
It was argued at the meeting that the cafe would be “out of keeping” with the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Documents also revealed that the building has been used as a bar area and cafe without planning permission.
The Grand Tour star had said it was a bad day for farmers after the meeting.
He had wished to convert a lambing shed which had been created in 2020, when Jeremy bought a new flock of sheep.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
