- EXCLUSIVE: Locals in Chadlington say they have ‘no sympathy’ for Clarkson
- Ex-Top Gear star has submitted 10 planning applications since buying his farm
- Neighbours claim most of the plans have ‘no merit’ and deserve to be rejected
Jeremy Clarkson is once again at loggerheads with local planners over his Diddly Squat farm after they rejected his SIXTH bid to carry out changes to the land.
The former Top Gear presenter has now been told he cannot plant a row of trees around a temporary car park on his 1,000-acre farm that has become a popular tourist attraction.
The setbacks led the 63-year-old Grand Tour star to feature his fierce dispute in one of the episodes of Series Two of his show.
The rejection is the latest in a long running bitter dispute Clarkson has had with his local authority as he attempts turn Diddly Squat into a money spinner after the success of the Amazon TV series ‘ Clarkson’s Farm ‘.
It follows rejections to open a restaurant, build a pickle ball court and even permission to lay out a simple farm track to a converted barn in the picturesque Cotswold village of Chadlington.
Faced with a barrage of complaints from fans on social media after the episode aired, West Oxfordshire District Council were forced to deny they had a ‘personal vendetta’ against the celebrity farmer.
But viewers of the TV series visiting Clarkson’s farm shop alleged that he is being victimised.
On a windswept, bitterly cold morning a lengthy 50 metre queue formed outside the store to buy bottles of Cow Juice (milk) or Bee Juice (honey).
Others sat tucking into a £14 burger served from a catering van and sheltering in the lamb shed featured in the TV series.
Katrina Goh and her boyfriend Hugh Snowden had driven 70 miles from London to visit the farm having been huge fans of the TV series.
The couple, from Sydney, Australia, said they thought it was unfair that Clarkson kept on having his planning applications refused.
Katrina told MailOnline: ‘There has to be a balance between what he is doing and the community, but he is trying to make a venture here.’
Ian Richardson, 43, who was visiting with his family said he thought Clarkson’s celebrity status meant he was not being treated fairly.
‘I do think they are picking on him. He is doing a good job and just wants to make the best of it.’
It’s a view shared by a young farmer Josh Shuker who had driven for over two hours from his home in Drayton, Shropshire to pay his first visit to Diddly Squat.
‘He has done so much for farmers and farming,’ said the 22-year-old.
‘I don’t think it is fair that he keeps on getting knocked back with his plans to improve the farm.’
While Clarkson’s fans were 100 per cent behind the outspoken TV presenter, locals in Chadlington were scathing of his battle with the local council.
They believe the plans – such as a pickle ball court – are designed to create controversy and a storyline for his series.
‘Clarkson is just an abuser of planning laws,’ said one angry resident, who asked not to be named.
‘His farm is in an outstanding area of natural beauty and he must know there are strict planning laws, but he still puts them in just the same.
‘It makes for good television, but they have no merit.’
Not a single resident interviewed by Mail Online had a good word to say about Clarkson and his farming venture.
Wiz Binne and her brother Eddie live a short walk from the farm shop and lambing shed featured in the Clarkson’s Farm – but have never visited.
‘It is only there to make money and to promote his show,’ said 25-year-old Wiz.
‘I don’t think anyone in the village has much sympathy for him, and they feel he has not brought anything to the area.’
Another resident was equally scathing of the repeated planning applications to the West Oxfordshire District Council.
‘He is not a stupid man so who would apply to build a 70-seater restaurant in what is a protected area. It doesn’t make any sense.
Councillor Dean Temple, a member of the local council, said Clarkson’s applications fail as they are for changed to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which is afforded greater protection by planning laws.
He said: ‘Only a small part of Mr Clarkson’s farm is in the AONB and yet he applied to build a restaurant in that part.
‘Had he put the restaurant on a part of the land not in the AONB it is likely he would have got permission. The planning laws for an AONB are much stricter and for a good reason.
‘We always try to do the best and to accommodate what he has asked for. Permission was given for the temporary car park as it meant cars were not parked along the road which was creating a safety hazard.’
Cllr Temple said he agreed with many villagers who believe Clarkson provokes the planners as it makes for exciting TV.
‘There is always conflict in reality shows. When they had the last Big Brother and everyone got on, it has the lowest ratings. If everything goes to plan, then it is not so exciting TV.’
Clarkson first clashed with the local council in 2020 soon after he opened a farm shop, and it became an instant success with visitors.
Long queues built up on the road leading to the farm shop and Clarkson was forced to apologies to villagers for the congestion and damage caused by cars parking on the roadside.
Earlier this year the presenter submitted a planning application to build a 60-seat steak restaurant and construct a car park for the diners.
It was rejected by the council but Clarkson said he had found a ‘cunning loophole’ to serve roast beef dinners.
But after six weeks he was ordered to shut it down for breaching planning rules with an appeal also ruled out.
The appeal however did allow the car park to be extended – a rare victory for Clarkson in his long running dispute with local planners.
Planning Inspector RJ Perrins acknowledge there were tensions within the local community but added the benefits of the extra car park space outweighed any concerns from villagers.
He wrote: ‘It is clear the site cannot cope with parking demand and that has had knock-on effects with nearby and adjacent fields being used, along with a substantial amount of parking on the highway and verges.
‘From the evidence before me, and from my own experience during site visits, I am in no doubt that this has caused a huge inconvenience for those who live nearby.’
Last month Clarkson extolled the virtues of the sport pickleball in his newspaper column but said as he lives in an area of outstanding beauty, he would need permission to build a court.
He wrote: I’ve decided to build a court at home.
‘As it’s only a quarter the size of a tennis court and needs no netting, you’d assume planning permission would be unnecessary.
‘And you’d be right. As long as you don’t live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, which I do. And you aren’t in west Oxfordshire, which I am. And your name doesn’t begin with a ‘J’ and end with an ‘eremy Clarkson’.
‘I shall persevere, though, because what are the alternatives for the ageing chap who isn’t quite ready to hit the wingback.’
No application has yet been submitted, but a bid to plant a row of trees around the farm shop car park has been met with a firm ‘No’ from the council.
He was told a 3m high hedgerow and a few crab apple trees would be all that was needed – rather than a row of large trees.
Locals say he wants to plant the trees as it will be mean permission for the car park will be made permanent rather than the three years granted by the council.
‘It’s all a ploy to make sure that car park stays put,’ said one villager.
Since 2019 a total of 10 planning applications have been submitted to West Oxfordshire Council for work on Diddly Squat farm.
Four have been approved and four rejected with two others going to appeal.
While Clarkson won the right to build a car park it is only meant to be for three years
Chadlington Parish Council is already preparing to oppose its full approval.
In a letter to the West Oxfordshire Council it points out it is against their local plan and warns that they should be on their guard at further expansion.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
