Jeremy Clarkson has been embroiled in a bitter feud with West Oxfordshire Council since opening his Diddly Squat Farm back in 2020, with the former Top Gear host facing numerous complaints from locals
Since launching his Diddly Squat Farm in 2020, Jeremy Clarkson has been embroiled in a series of disputes with West Oxfordshire Council over his various expansion plans. Whether it’s setting up a restaurant or a farm shop, the former Top Gear presenter has found himself at odds with the local council throughout the recent seasons of his popular Amazon Prime show, Clarkson’s Farm.
This has led to West Oxfordshire District Council issuing several statements, including one accusing the TV programme of misleading viewers about a planning meeting where Clarkson claimed villagers had turned against him. His troubles with the locals began in 2022 when he proposed opening a restaurant on the farm and expanding his car park due to overcrowding.
The Planning Inspectorate later granted permission for the extension and changes to the land’s use, but did not approve the addition of a restaurant.
Inspector RJ Perrins’ report detailed the council’s objections to Clarkson transforming the land into “to a mixed agricultural and leisure attraction use, comprising cafe, restaurant, gift/farm shop, parking and lavatory facilities.”
The inspector approved all except the restaurant, along with permission to extend the car park and “formalise temporary parking and provision of new access arrangements”, reports the Express.
Perrins noted that the site was currently unable to handle the parking demand, resulting in parking on nearby fields, roads, and verges.
In the fourth series, Jeremy Clarkson hit a snag when he announced his ambition to open a pub using produce from his farm. He faced resistance after a pre-planning application meeting, where he lambasted the Cotswold District Council for appearing “worried” about the potential success of his venture.
The council hit back at Clarkson’s accusations in a statement to the BBC, insisting it “absolutely refutes” his claims and highlighting “several positive meetings” with his team, even receiving gratitude via email from his planning agent.
Before his encounter with the district council, Clarkson had a more encouraging meeting with Gloucestershire County Council at Shire Hall, which prides itself on being “pro-business and pro-tourism” and seemed to back his pub plans.
Clarkson later reflected on his district council meeting with a sense of defeat while at a café in Cirencester, expressing frustration: “We had a man from Bourton council, and he just didn’t have a single positive thing to say. People are going to come… I know they are, that’s the point of a pub.”
Despite initially eyeing the Grade II-listed Coach and Horses Inn in Bourton-On-The-Water, Clarkson ultimately acquired The Windmill in Asthall, Oxfordshire, which he has since rebranded as The Farmer’s Dog.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
