Fans visiting Clarkson’s Farm have sparked complaints from locals over traffic on nearby roads.
Jeremy Clarkson opened his The Farmer’s Dog pub in August last year, attracting even more visitors to his Oxfordshire site following the success of his Diddly Squat farm shop.
The Grand Tour presenter, 64, faced ‘massive struggles’ ahead of its launch, and splurged a reported £1,000,000 on the venue, which is now causing problems with locals.
It’s been claimed locals in surrounding Cotswolds villages are raging over traffic running through narrow roads to reach the farm shop and pub.
The Farmer’s Dog now even has a warning on its site, saying: ‘If you’re travelling to The Farmer’s Dog, especially from Diddly Squat Farm Shop, please use the main roads.
‘If you try to use the single-track cross-country route, I guarantee it will be slower because you’ll spend half your time backing up and looking for a passing place.’
The pub, which prides itself on locally sourced produce, has introduced a series of changes recently including lunchtime bookings, while the mainChadlington shop is temporarily closed.
But locals are urging more to be done, with residents led by parish council leaders demanding action from Google to direct drivers towards main roads rather than narrower alternatives.
Lynne Hughson, chairwoman of Asthall Parish Council, said, according to MailOnline: ‘We approached The Farmer’s Dog to ask that the preferred route from Diddly Squat Farm to the pub/restaurant be shown avoiding our villages and they have amended their website to show the preferred route.
‘Google is still showing an alternative route via Fordwells, Asthall Leigh and Worsham.
‘If you have concerns about Google showing this route please raise a complaint with them as follows.
‘Open Google maps and make sure that you are signed in. In the top left, click the menu. Click edit the map. Choose your options about maps. To add a screenshot with your feedback, follow the instructions.’
Hughson is also asking for speed limits to be reduced in the village, saying the county council is now ‘consulting with parishioners about this speed limit and also about reducing the 30mph limits in Field Assarts and Asthall Leigh to 20mph’.
A lower speed limit has already been give a green light by the council, with 20mph approved in Asthall that is due to come into effect legally.
Minutes from a parish council meeting in September raised the issue, saying: ‘The public commented on the increased traffic through Swinbrook and down the Avenue in Asthall largely as a result of sat nav. directing cars from Diddly Squat.
‘The possibility of a speed limit through Asthall was raised by the public and this has already been put to OCC by the council.
‘There was also concern about the speed of vehicles exiting the roundabout towards Witney. A 40mph speed limit is now in force.
‘Parking was also raised with local residents concerned about the use of a historic site for parking.’
‘Moving forward it was felt best to foster a spirit of mutual cooperation,’ they added.
Ahead of the pub opening, there were fears of traffic problems from local residents, with Oxfordshire County Council saying it had worked ‘closely and pro-actively’ with Clarkson.
‘Several measures have been taken to reduce the likelihood of traffic and parking related problems, and to support the safe and successful opening of the site,’ a council spokesman said.
‘Footway improvements have been made to better link the existing adjacent bus stops on the B4047 with the site of the pub to provide a safe and more sustainable option for those visitors that are able to take advantage of the hourly bus service, but whom might otherwise have travelled by car.
‘Whilst double yellow lines are not currently being considered at this time, measures have been taken to highlight the inappropriateness of parking on highway verges in the area, and to deter the same.’
The council said motorists were being asked to only use designated off-highway car parks and not park on the roads or verges nearby, adding: ‘Parking will be monitored, and if necessary, controls may be imposed in the future.’
‘They said in a statement in August: ‘Consideration is being given to a reduction in the speed limit from the existing 60mph, to 40mph to improve safety on each of the approaches to the A40 roundabout, including that of the B4047,’ they added in the statement in August.
Clarkson also thanked Oxfordshire County Council for ‘all their help’ ahead of the opening.
The presenter purchased the farm in 2008 and began running it himself in 2019, filming the process for Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm.
Over the years, he’s faced several issues, with outrage over parking and various rejected planning proposals from West Oxfordshire District Council.
He found himself embroiled in a row over his plans to allow greater visitor access to his farm and its attached shop.
The TV star wanted to extend the car park on his Oxfordshire farm plot to accommodate 70 vehicles, but the proposals were originally opposed by West Oxfordshire District Council.
He also found himself in hot water with his local authority over a restaurant on his farm, with the council shutting it down after it was allegedly opened without planning permission.
Late last year, the former Top Gear presenter admitted he’s suffering a ‘total disaster’ at the pub and struggling to make profits.
Writing in his column in The Times, he said: ‘It’s galling to see how much effort is required to make so little money on the farm.
‘It’s worse at the pub. The customers are coming. There’s no problem there. But turning their visits into a profit is nigh-on impossible.’
Metro has approached Google, local councils and the parish council for comment.
Clarkson’s Farm is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
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