Visitors to Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm chew up grass verges in their 4x4s

Visitors to Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm chewed up grass verges with their 4x4s today as a dispute heats up among locals over a new parking space.

Dozens of vehicles again drove into the popular Oxfordshire site this morning and long queues formed outside the Amazon presenter’s farm shop.

But as its popularity continued to soar, the farm’s lack of proper facilities to cater to such an influx of customers was once again exposed.

A number of cars have been left parked on swampy mounds by the side of a road outside Diddly Squat, which have deteriorated in recent days as more people come to visit.

Clarkson remains embroiled in a planning appeal battle with West Oxfordshire County Council, which refused to give him permission to expand the store’s car park in May last year.

Visitors to Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm chewed up grass verges with their 4x4s today as a dispute heats up among locals over a new parking space

Dozens of vehicles again drove into the popular Oxfordshire site this morning and long queues formed outside the Amazon presenter’s farm shop

But as its popularity continued to soar, the farm’s lack of proper facilities to cater to such an influx of customers was once again exposed

Jeremy Clarkson was filmed by a camera crew at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire yesterday. The former Top Gear star is pictured with partner Lisa Hogan

A two-day Planning Inspectorate meeting was held this week to consider proposals by the 62-year-old former Top Gear presenter to house 70 more vehicles.

The plans are opposed by WODC on the grounds that they would encourage more visitors to Diddly Squat Farm – which lies between Chadlington and Chipping Norton – causing traffic problems.

Council has also said allowing more vehicles would further disturb the tranquility of the Cotswolds Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Taking to Twitter, Clarkson said the recent commotion “makes it sound like a civil war is raging” but insisted “a compromise will be reached.”

It comes after it was revealed that teenage workers at Diddly Squat were being forced to wear bodycams to record the abuse being directed at them by angry locals over the influx of visitors.

Annabel Gray, 32, who works on a catering trailer at Clarkson’s farm, said this week workers at the farm as young as 16 had to attach cameras to their uniforms.

She was also responding to a complaint made in a meeting by Chadlington’s Hilary Moore, who described tourists drawn to the farm as “motorheads” who drive slowly on the surrounding roads to “show off their cars”.

But Ms Gray said that description was “unfair” and that she had “witnessed locals” contributing to traffic problems by also driving slowly.

A number of cars have been left parked on swampy mounds by the side of a road outside Diddly Squat, which have deteriorated in recent days as more people come to visit

Clarkson remains embroiled in a planning appeal battle with West Oxfordshire County Council, which refused to give him permission to expand the store’s car park in May last year

A two-day Planning Inspectorate meeting was held this week to consider proposals by the 62-year-old former Top Gear presenter to house 70 more vehicles

Ms Gray, who is also a farmer’s daughter, said Clarkson’s store offers “essential” information for visitors, some unaware that “beef burgers come from a cow”.

Other villagers who support Diddly Squat Farm have called it the “crown jewel” of sustainable living when they asked their local council to approve the expansion plans.

It comes as camera crews were spotted in Chipping Norton yesterday to continue filming on his hit series Clarkson’s Farm.

It also emerged yesterday that the broadcaster has invested in a new beer trailer to serve its flagship Hawkstone lager.

Farm worker Kaleb Cooper shared a photo of the new “mobile bar” on Instagram – with a photo showing a gray trailer with pink paint hanging over the roof.

While it’s not clear what permits Clarkson will need to build the bar on his land, building permits are generally not required for temporary structures used less than 28 days a year.

He already sells alcohol in his shop and therefore may not need an additional alcohol license.

Clarkson’s struggles have prompted some local councils to urge officials to go easy on the star, with Liam Walker – a Conservative member of Oxfordshire County Council – suggesting he is being treated differently to other developers.

The plans are opposed by WODC on the grounds that they would encourage more visitors to Diddly Squat Farm – which lies between Chadlington and Chipping Norton – causing traffic problems

Council has also said allowing more vehicles would further disturb the tranquility of the Cotswolds Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty

Visitors walk down the street while dozens of cars are parked on strips of grass near Diddly Squat Farm

“Jeremy is Marmite and he knows it,” he told MailOnline.

“Of course the council will say that all planning applications will be taken at face value, but I wonder if some of my fellow councilors came here with a preordained view.”

Clarkson also challenged his decision to close his restaurant on the same property for allegedly opening it in July last year without planning permission.

It comes as a court heard how Clarkson’s pal Mr Cooper was a first responder after a “selfish and careless driver from hell” plowed into a Ford Ka outside the TV star’s farm.

Mr Cooper was on hand to close the road to traffic after Lewis Smith, 25, ignored give way signs at a junction of the A361 near Chadlington and crashed his Ford Fiesta into the oncoming vehicle in September 2021.

The driver of the KA, a woman in his 50s, and Smith’s passenger, a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries.

Smith, who was not wearing a seat belt with his passenger, was yesterday sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk