Jeremy Clarkson has found himself embroiled in another planning permission dispute, this time over plans to improve the car park at his Oxfordshire pub, The Farmer’s Dog. The former Top Gear presenter has expressed frustration over delays in getting approval to lay hardcore on the field used by pub customers, warning that the uncertainty is affecting his businesses and the people who depend on them.Clarkson, 66, took over the pub in 2024, and its appearance in his Prime Video series has helped attract visitors to the establishment and the surrounding area. However, writing in his column for The Sunday Times, he said the latest dispute with local authorities could see tensions flare up again, four years after he faced objections over plans to open a restaurant near his Diddly Squat Farm.
Jeremy Clarkson says council delays could leave pub car park muddy
Clarkson explained that he had been offered a large quantity of hardcore, a crushed material that could be used to create a hard surface for the pub’s car park. He wanted to complete the work before winter rainfall turned the field into a muddy stretch, but said the offer was available for a limited time.“I was keen to get cracking for two reasons: firstly, it was a limited-time offer and, secondly, I wanted it in place before the winter rains turned the field into a mud bath,” he wrote.The presenter claimed that despite repeated attempts to contact the authorities and explain the urgency, he had not received the necessary permission.“We’ve rung. We’ve begged. We’ve pleaded,” Clarkson wrote, adding that customers could end up dragging mud onto the roads throughout winter if the work was not completed.Taking a swipe at the pace of local decision-making, he added: “Urgency, however, is not a word that’s fully understood by local authorities.”Clarkson warned that the dispute could escalate, saying that “it’s going to kick off all over again”.
Clarkson raises concerns over 300 jobs and local businesses
Jeremy Clarkson seeks permission to lay hardcore at The Farmer’s Dog car park before winter rains. (Photo: Amazon Prime Video)
The presenter said the uncertainty extended beyond The Farmer’s Dog, claiming that his farm shop was also facing similar difficulties in dealing with the authorities.Clarkson said nearly 300 people were employed across his various businesses and that staff wanted to know whether their jobs were secure. He also pointed to the cafes, antique shops and guesthouses in the area that rely on visitors attracted by the popularity of Clarkson’s Farm and Diddly Squat.“So too do the owners of all the cafes, antique shops and guesthouses in the area who rely on Diddly Squat’s popularity for much of their business,” he wrote.“And all we can ever tell them is: ‘We don’t know.’”Clarkson has repeatedly criticised the planning system, arguing that too many people are involved in decisions over individual applications. He also questioned the way historic buildings are treated compared with more recent structures, suggesting that the rules can make even minor changes difficult.
Jeremy Clarkson’s latest row follows restaurant planning dispute
The latest disagreement follows Clarkson’s earlier clash with local planning authorities over plans to convert a barn at Diddly Squat Farm into a restaurant.In late 2021, he presented the proposal at a meeting with local residents in Chadlington. The plan involved turning a lambing shed into a restaurant serving meals for £60 for two people.At the time, Clarkson acknowledged that the popularity of Clarkson’s Farm had brought large numbers of visitors to the village, but argued that the increased footfall had also benefited local businesses.Months later, planning officers objected to the restaurant proposal, saying that converting the agricultural building would be out of keeping with the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Recalling the dispute in his latest column, Clarkson said one councillor had objected on the grounds of light pollution, despite the restaurant being scheduled to close at 4pm. He criticised what he saw as a failure to consider the potential jobs and economic benefits.Clarkson’s latest complaint centres on the car park at The Farmer’s Dog, but he says the wider uncertainty surrounding his businesses and their future remains a major concern.
