Jeremy Clarkson suffers setback in bid to build a new car park and cafe at his Diddly Squat farm after council officials recommended planning permission should be refused
- Former Top Gear host had submitted plans to extend his farm in Oxfordshire
- But he faced an angry backlash from residents who submitted 50 objections
- Despite changing transport plans, councillors are recommended to turn it down
- West Oxfordshire District Council will make a final decision on the application
Jeremy Clarkson has suffered a blow in his bid to extend his Diddly Squat farming operation after council officials recommended planning permission should be refused.
The former Top Gear host, 61, had submitted a planning application to open a 70-space car park and a 60-seater café at his farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire.
But the plans faced an angry backlash from local residents and saw more than 50 objections, mostly over fears of increased traffic in the village, registered with West Oxfordshire District Council.
Despite Clarkson’s representatives changing transport plans for the scheme in an attempt to appease the mounting number of objectors, many felt they had not gone far enough and councillors are now being recommended to turn down his proposal at a meeting next Monday.
The 61-year-old presenter also faces a potential double blow after being served with a notice following complaints that the farm shop had breached original planning conditions by selling out-of-town souvenirs.
Jeremy Clarkson has suffered a blow in his bid to extend his Diddly Squat farming operation after council officials recommended planning permission should be refused
The former Top Gear host (pictured), 61, had submitted a planning application to open a 70-space car park and a 60-seater café at his farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, but the plans faced an angry backlash from local residents
The popularity of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime has led to queues for the Diddly Squat Farm Shop, with neighbours growing concerned after hundreds of enthusiastic fans started queuing outside his estate.
In a report, the planning official from West Oxfordshire Council said the nature and scale of the plans ‘does not fall within the scope of a farm diversification scheme’.
It states: ‘By reason of its siting, design, scale and nature of the use, the proposed development would not be compatible or consistent with the existing farming operation or its sensitive open countryside location within the Cotswolds AONB.
‘The development would be visually intrusive and harmful to the open rural character, scenic beauty and tranquility of the area.’
In response to earlier concerns, architects in charge of the project, Courtingtons, released amended designs in the hope of garnering further local support.
The new proposals would see the creation of a one way system in and out of the facility for the proposed 70 vehicle car park, which is backed by an additional ‘overflow’ car park field.
The new design would also include a separate entrance driveway, along with a bike parking space, in an effort to appease locals concerned about traffic problems coming in and out of the village.
It came after consultee ERS Pollution said the land is a former quarry which might be ‘contaminated’.
It claimed that the proposed site has been previously used as a quarry so may contain ‘filled ground’, while an investigation will have to be carried out before building can take place.
Last month, dozens of cars lined the grass verges and people could be seen forming long queues as they flocked to the popular Diddly Squat Farm Shop in Chadlington on the last Saturday before Christmas.
The shop’s car park was described as a ‘sea of mud’ as a result of the poor weather and the high number of vehicles with one visitor suggesting the shop should change it’s name to Diddly Squelch.
Fans from all over the country have been queuing up for two-and-a-half hours to get inside the Diddly Squat shop since the launch of the hit Amazon Prime show earlier this year, much to the displeasure of some of his neighbours.
Pictures taken on December 18 showed poor weather and a high volume of vehicles had turned the car park into a mud bath for those lucky enough to park there while dozens of others parked on the grassy verges nearby.
Police were called out to manage traffic chaos in June, caused by hundreds of Jeremy Clarkson fans descending on his farm in the hope of meeting him and to check out his stock, which includes honey, chutney and T-shirt.
The popularity of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime has led to queues for the Diddly Squat Farm Shop, with neighbours growing concerned after hundreds of enthusiastic fans started queuing outside his estate
Despite traffic problems being the source of several objections to Clarkon’s planning application, planners did not cite those as a reason for recommending refusal.
But they did respond to concerns raised by local resident Maggie Jackman, of Chadlington, about breaches in the original conditions imposed.
She wrote: ‘Further to my earlier objection comment I would like to add a complete lack of trust that the applicants will adhere to any planning conditions given.
‘With regard to the farm shop none of the conditions given on 11th December 2020 have been adhered to and the shop is now heavily promoting through their social media platforms and selling Diddly Squat souvenirs unlikely to have been manufactured within a 16 mile radius of the shop.
‘I refer to the WODC Notice of Decision, neither are souvenirs referred to in clause 7 of the document. Therefore I have no faith that any further permitted development would comply with any regulations.’
Clarkson also faces a potential double blow after being served with a notice following complaints that the farm shop (pictured) had breached original planning conditions by selling out-of-town souvenirs
In response, planners say they are now investigating complaints the farm shop is selling more than just ‘goods and produce grown, reared or produced on the holding or from local producers’.
The report stated: ‘This matter is being investigated and a Planning Contravention Notice has recently been served.’
Chadlington Parish Council has also responded to the application to raise a number of complaints.
A spokesperson said: ‘This planning application has proved to be extremely divisive within the village of Chadlington.
‘There are many who hold very real concerns regarding this proposal and wish to object. However, there are also those who support this planning application.’
Around 12 letters of support have also been received with some local residents saying the increased publicity Clarkson has brought has been good for the area.
West Oxfordshire District Council will make a final decision on the application.
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