Council responds to backlash over ‘unfair’ decision on Jeremy Clarkson’s restaurant

As it returns for a second season, Clarkson’s Farm once again demonstrates the serious challenges facing British farmers – not least the soaring input prices and large amounts of red tape for those hoping to diversify.

West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) came under fierce criticism from viewers as it was revealed Clarkson was not only denied planning permission to convert his lambing shed into a restaurant selling local produce – but also to create a car park and farm track to help tackle traffic build-up in the local village and mud on the roads.

Series two of the popular show documents the former Top Gear host’s bid to introduce beef cattle to his farm and sell the meat in his own restaurant – which would be stocked solely with produce from his own farm and other local businesses.

As well as offering healthy local produce and very low food miles, the endeavour would have created around 50 jobs and supported local farmers who are struggling to stay profitable. One of Jeremy’s suppliers is a dairy farmer who has lost 50% of her herd to TB and whose business is no longer financially viable as a result.

Planning permission for the restaurant and car park for Diddly Squat Farm Shop were denied, leaving him with no way to sell his beef profitably. His application for a new farm track was also rejected, which the farm’s advisor Cheerful Charlie acknowledged was almost unheard of.

This is despite the fact that a document shown to Jeremy ahead of the vote confirmed that there were no objections from the parish council, Oxfordshire County Council Transport, Thames Valley Police, Environmental Health, WODC, Cotswolds Conservation Board, drainage, ecologist and archaeologist.

One councillor is shown raising concerns about light pollution, but the main objection appears to have come from a barrister hired by local resident Hamish Dewar, described as Clarkson’s “nemesis”. The barrister claims Clarkson’s lambing shed was a “trojan horse” that was only ever intended to be used as a restaurant – despite the fact that it was used for lambing in 2020, shown in season one of Clarkson’s Farm.

Viewers were left baffled as yellow cones were then placed for 2km along the Diddly Squat farm track, blocking off an entrance to Jeremy’s farm, in an apparent bid to prevent visitors to the farm shop from parking on the verges.

“Missed opportunity”

The footage has prompted a furious backlash against the council, which has been accused of not supporting local farmers and making its decision based on Clarkson’s celebrity status, rather than considering the merits of the proposal.

On Twitter, Oxfordshire County Councillor Liam Walker called WODC’s decision a ‘missed opportunity’ for the county and local farming, adding that in his view ‘it’s all very personal’. Similarly, Welsh farmer Gareth Wyn Jones said it’s a ‘pity the council aren’t supporting @JeremyClarkson […] supporting rural business backing British agriculture’.

Meanwhile Facebook user Susie Barker accused WODC of abusing its powers and having a “personal vendetta” against Jeremy Clarkson. ‘To even deny a track road on a farm is unheard of. They are not looking at the bigger picture of him forming a cooperative farming association, plus the 50 job opportunities he would be providing for locals. Which villages & farms need in order to continue to sustain the community. The Secretary of state needs to investigate this council as their conduct is an absolute disgrace.’

Abi Jenkins, however, noted that farmers across the UK are facing similar obstacles, not just Clarkson. ‘It’s anti enterprise, anti diversification and anti survival of U.K. small business and in particular U.K. farming. Councils should not be allowed to get away with this obstructive behaviour.’

Viewers were also quick to point out that there is a caravan park sited close to the farm, calling into question the validity of concerns about preserving dark skies and the natural beauty of the area.

District council reacts to criticism

Reacting to the criticism, the council issued a statement: ‘We understand that the planning process shown in Season 2 of Clarkson’s Farm can seem obstructive and that people will be confused by the planning decisions at Diddly Squat Farm. […]

‘The work Diddly Squat Farm is doing to highlight the wider challenges faced by farmers is commendable and we support farm diversification to help local farmers bring in income as they have lost other funding. Farming and rural businesses are incredibly important in West Oxfordshire and we sympathise with the challenges farmers face in running their businesses, especially after the uncertainty caused by Brexit as highlighted in Clarkson’s Farm. […]’

The council claimed it recognised the benefits of Clarkson’s proposals to local farmers and the economy but the proposals did not ‘meet other planning requirements’. It also said it has recently suggested Clarkson make an application for temporary planning permission for a car park in an alternative location.

However, the statement did little to dampen the strength of feeling on the issue, with hundreds of responses on Twitter continuing to criticise the decision.

@conorlander wrote: ‘The Cotswolds won’t be an AONB in time. The farmers will have all gone bust or sold up due to an oppressive council stopping them from diversifying. This will lead to much farm land being sold to housing developers.’

While Clarkson’s Farm concludes with the Diddly Squat team opening the restaurant using a legal loophole, it was subsequently hit with an enforced closure notice by the council and Clarkson has since abandoned his attempts to open it.

Clarkson’s Farm season two is now available on Amazon Prime.

What are your thoughts on the planning permission system? Have you struggled to set up a diversified business on your farm due to red tape? Share your views with us at editor@farmersguide.co.uk