Jeremy Clarkson wins victory over council as he’s granted permission to extend car park at Diddly Squat farm shop
JEREMY Clarkson has won a victory over the council as he’s been granted permission to extend the car park at his famous farm shop.
The former Top Gear presenter had been locked in a row with West Oxfordshire District Council since last year when he submitted plans to provide more parking at Diddly Squat farm.
Originally refusing the plans, the council were left dealing with local uproar.
The farm, featured on Amazon’s Clarkson’s Farm, started attracting more visitors as its popularity grew.
But the council’s decision meant there was a lack of spaces for all of the cars – forcing hundreds to park roadside, damaging the land.
A planning inspector has now overturned the refusal and given it the green light after outrage from residents.
In a report, officer RJ Perrins said he grants permission for “an extension to existing parking area to formalise temporary parking and provision of new access arrangements”.
He went on to say: “[Diddly Squat] does not ask for an entrance fee or advertise as a leisure or tourist attraction, it is not comparable to say a Wildlife Park or miniature railway which are reliant upon attracting tourists and paying visitors to be viable.
“I am in no doubt that this has caused a huge inconvenience for those who live nearby.
“It was clear to me that many people visiting on the day of my final site visit had no regard to the proper use of the highway, with verges being further churned up and traffic having to stop, as visitors walked the middle of the road or cars manoeuvred into tight spaces.
“From that snapshot in time I am not surprised, as heard in evidence, that tensions have run high between some of those living locally and some visitors to the farm shop.”
However, plans to add a restaurant on site were still turned down.