'Very bad day' Jeremy Clarkson 'frustrated' as Diddly Squat restaurant plans thrown out

express.co.uk:

Jeremy Clarkson, 61, was planning on starting a restaurant at his West Oxfordshire farm, however plans were thrown out by the council today.The former Top Gear host faced an angry backlash from local residents over his ambition to expand the farm with more than 50 objections registered with the council.There has been a long running feud between the Clarkson's Farm star and his neighbours, over their distaste for further farm expansion.Since Clarkson's Farm hit Amazon Prime last year, the West Oxfordshire farm has become a tourist destination, creating lots of traffic, angering those in Chadlington.Jeremy recently proposed a 70 space car park and a 60 seat cafe for Diddly Squat farm.The presenter turned up in person at a meeting of West Oxon District Council today to make a personal plea to councillors to back his plans but this was not a success.Jeremy said at the meeting, according to The Mirror: "It is diversification of a farming business.

We have already started talking to our neighbouring farmers."He added: "Farmers look after the woodland, they look after the hedges, the streams and the fields - they keep it beautiful."Farmers are not going to be able to do that for much longer because of the farmer's state of finances."We have been told as farmers to diversify - that is exactly what this proposal is."According to the Daily Star, Jeremy added the refusal would be a "very bad day for farming".Then asked how frustrated he was, he said: "Very, and so will all the local farmers."A total of 53 objections were received by the council, with another 12 letters of support.Councillors at the West Oxon District Council meeting supported the planners recommendation to refuse permission on the grounds that the restaurant would.