Jeremy Clarkson has been ordered to close the restaurant and cafe on his farm in Oxfordshire for what the local council said was a breach of planning laws.
The 62-year-old broadcaster is appealing after receiving an enforcement notice from West Oxfordshire District Council in August.
Clarkson‘s Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington has become well known since the television series Clarkson’s Farm launched in June 2021.
He opened the farm restaurant in July – six months after a the request was rejected by the board.
In its ‘significant change of use’ enforcement notice, the authority said parking, restrooms and traffic are ‘visually intrusive and detrimental to the rural character, scenic beauty and tranquility’ from the Cotswolds AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty) .
“The unlawful use of Diddly Squat Farm due to its nature, scale and location is unsustainable and inconsistent with its countryside location,” the notice reads.
Clarkson was ordered to close the restaurant or anything selling food for consumption on the farm, and also ordered to remove dining tables, chairs, umbrellas, and picnic tables.
The advisory was due to go into effect on September 12 subject to an appeal, which the former Top Gear presenter filed days earlier.
Agents for Clarkson say the council’s decision is “overreaching” and that the developments on the property are not in breach of planning laws.
In its appeal, the John Phillips Planning Consultancy said there had been no “material change” on the pitch and that the sale of food and the use of tables and chairs were “lawful”.
“The appellant will demonstrate that the proposals would not be visually intrusive or detrimental to the rural character of the area or to the scenic beauty or tranquility,” of the area, according to their notice of appeal.
They also said it would take longer than the six weeks granted by the board to remove the items.
Clarkson bought the farm in 2008 but it was previously run by a villager. However, in 2019, he decided to launch himself.
Following the success of Clarkson’s Farm, which followed its antics for a year and was renewed for a second series, visitors flocked to the shop to buy products such as cow juice, rapeseed oil, chutneys and jams.
Some neighbors were annoyed by the number of shoppers who lined up for hours to buy goods, according to previous reports.
In September 2021, Clarkson admitted the farm had “flooded” the village, but he told Jeremy Vine: “The village shop is better, the village cafe, the village pub – they’re all better.
“They’re overwhelmed with people, but they’re overwhelmed with people spending money.”
The Planning Inspectorate, a government agency, said its appeal was valid and accepted it, with final comments from council and Clarkson due by the end of November.
The hearing date has not yet been set.
Sky News has contacted representatives for Clarkson for comment.
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