Clarkson’s Farm host and well-known TV star Jeremy Clarkson has appealed an enforcement notice against his Diddly Squat empire.
The notice, which was issued by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), instructs the owners of the business to stop activity in breach of planning control.
In a statement, a West Oxfordshire District Council spokesperson said:
“The Council has recently become aware that the owners of Diddly Squat Farm have appealed the enforcement notice, which is common practice in planning enforcement cases.
“A Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will decide the appeal and as part of this process both the council and the appellant will have the opportunity to present their respective cases.”
The WODC ordered the farm to undertake a catalogue of measures within six weeks of it serving the notice on August 12.
The council will respond to the appellant’s grounds of appeal by setting out the basis for serving the notice, detail of the breaches of planning control and the reasons why it considers the notice should be upheld and the appeal dismissed.
“Council officers have worked with the owner and the planning agents of the business, over many months, to investigate breaches in planning control, advising on how the business can be operated in a lawful way and trying to reach a solution,” the spokesperson added.
“The business continues to operate outside the planning permissions granted and advice has been ignored. The activity has also had a significant impact on the local community.”
The council said that it is continuing to pursue enforcement action to ensure that Clarkson follows planning laws on the site, saying that it would enforce the same on any business operating “across the district and within an Area of Outstanding National Beauty”.
Diddly Squat Restaurant
Clarkson announced the opening of the Diddly Squat Restaurant on Twitter in July of this year.
Announcing the opening, Clarkson said: “I’m thrilled to announce that you now have a chance to try the amazing food we grow and rear on my farm at the brand new (but quite rustic) Diddly Squat Restaurant.”
He added that people can’t simply turn up as a booking is needed. However, before doing so he said, they should know it’s “small, mostly outdoors and very rustic”.
Regarding the positives of the farm, Clarkson said that the view is “enormous” and that the food comes with minimal food miles.
“Everything you eat was grown or reared on our farm,” he said.
This dining experience costs £49/person, no cash and pre-paid. However, a ‘VIP’ experience is also offered, at £69/person.
The VIP experience includes warmer seating in a “tiny” VIP room housed in an old shepard’s hut and a complimentary bottle of English sparkling wine.
Concluding his description, Clarkson said that the restaurant is “like no other”.
