‘Death threats’ made after Clarkson planning refusal have necessitated new safety measures, says council

The council which rejected a proposed development at Jeremy Clarkson’s farm says it has had to take safety measures to protect councillors, staff and local people since the TV series was broadcast.

Extra security measures have been implemented over the furore surrounding an application for the use of buildings at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, the council has said.

More than one death threat has been reported to police, according to a statement from West Oxfordshire District Council.

The former Top Gear presenter’s planning battle with the local authority was featured in series two of Amazon’s Clarkson’s Farm, with the council issuing a statement last week that the meeting of its Uplands planning sub-committee, at which the application was considered, had been represented in a “misleading” way in the series.

In January, the council rejected a planning application to convert a lambing shed to a new café or restaurant together with associated landscaping works and provision of parking. The proposed restaurant would have provided up to 50 covers, while the car park would have the capacity for 60-70 cars.

The application is the subject of an appeal hearing conducted by the Planning Inspectorate which started on Tuesday 14 March. Clarkson is challenging both the council’s refusal of planning permission to extend the farm shop car park in May 2022, and an enforcement notice it issued for opening a restaurant without planning permission.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Unfortunately, we have had to take safety precautions following a number of threats and abuse directed at councillors and local people since the airing of season two of Clarkson’s Farm.

“This has included death threats, and as a result we have had to consider a range of safety measures to protect councillors, staff and residents.

“We understand people may not agree with decisions taken by the council but there is no place for threatening or abusive behaviour.

“It damages the democratic process when people feel intimidated and do not feel safe to express the opinions they are entitled to.”