Members of the West Oxfordshire District Council received ‘abusive death threats’ after refusing to extend Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm.
Clarkson, the 62-year-old Grand Tour host on the Amazon Prime Video series, has previously submitted an application to increase the parking lot at his on-site business near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.
A ‘number of threats and abuse’ were made at an anonymous councillor and a member of the public who criticised Clarkson’s proposals, though.
The authority said in a statement: ‘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 2 of Clarkson’s Farm.’
They added: ‘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.’
The threats were apparently made sometime after the show’s second season premiered on February 10.
As Clarkson looked clearly angered by the refusal, the council stated that he would have been treated ‘no differently’.
A statement said: ‘We understand that the planning process shown in Season 2 of Clarkson’s Farm can seem obstructive and that people will be confused by the planning decisions at Diddly Squat Farm.
‘As with any other planning authority, we have a legal responsibility to make sure that planning laws and policies are followed correctly by everyone to manage development and protect local communities and the environment.
‘This is regardless of who they are and we treat Diddly Squat Farm no differently.
‘Behind the scenes we have worked with the owners and planning agents of Diddly Squat Farm over the past two years to try and reach a positive outcome where the business can operate within the planning laws and policies.’
The statement continued: ‘Over recent years, Diddly Squat Farm has had many planning applications approved where they were in line with national and local planning policy.
‘This included approving the farm shop with its current car park, approving a lambing shed and allowing the area from which farm shop produce could be sourced to be extended.
‘The farm shop we approved can sell local produce from local farmers – which we wholly support.’
Clarkson’s Farm seasons one and two are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Source My Celebrity Life.