Jeremy Clarkson forced to CLOSE 'nightmare' Oxfordshire restaurant after furious row with locals

Former Top Gear presenter, Jeremy Clarkson has been forced to shut his restaurant on Diddly Squat farm in Oxfordshire after being served with an enforcement notice from the local council.

Residents say the area has been “plagued with traffic” and disruption since Mr Clarkson opened it in a barn in a field last July.

The site was closed following an enforcement order from Cotswolds council officials but Mr Clarkson managed to reopen the venue via what he called a “delightful little loophole” that allowed him to bypass traditional planning laws.

Residents in Oxfordshire have complained about traffic and disruption
Ian West

The 62-year-old broadcaster has now admitted defeat in a letter to West Oxfordshire District Council, according to the Mirror.

His hit Amazon series, Clarkson’s Farm, sees the presenter work on his 1,000-acre plot of land, located between Chipping Norton and Chadlington.

Local residents have been celebrating the closure after more than a year of lodging complaints.

One resident of Chadlington told the Mirror: “It is a win for the community. I would like the whole thing shut down. We are just a small village and Diddly Squat Farm is in the wrong place.

“We don't need a theme park in an area of natural beauty. The new year was ridiculous. You'd spend about 20 minutes trying to get into town.”

Another added: “We have been plagued with traffic since he arrived. He caused massive upset with these restaurant plans. It's just the arrogance of what he thinks he can get away with.”

Parish councillor Ann Gate backed Clarkson, as she wrote to the district council on behalf of “quietly supportive local residents” to say he has “used his celebrity status to highlight the difficulties of the farming community”.

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Jeremy Clarkson has owned the farm since 2008
Ian West

Others have also argued Clarkson’s side with one man telling the MailOnline: “I feel sorry for him facing all these rules. They don't make it easy for business people in this country.

“I think the objections must be down to jealousy as I don't see how anyone could complain about a restaurant [on the farm], it's a beautiful spot.”

Amazon Prime will air a second Clarkson’s Farm series in February.