Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that a significant change at Diddly Squat Farm has eliminated queues at the popular Cotswolds establishment. The Clarkson's Farm star made the remarks in a recent newspaper column while defending the region against criticism that it might not suit American actress Sydney Sweeney as a relocation destination.
Defending the Cotswolds
Writing in The Sun, Jeremy took issue with several claims about the area, including suggestions of poor internet access and a lack of convenient supermarkets. He noted that he had submitted his latest column using an internet connection considerably better than the one in his London flat, and that his local Co-op was just a ten-minute drive away.
Addressing complaints about traffic, he wrote: "And then I went on a ten-minute trip to the Co-op, past my farm shop where there aren't any queues because I finally have a car park."
Planning History
The car park has been a source of ongoing planning discussions. Jeremy previously secured temporary permission for the facility at his Oxfordshire farm, granted in 2023 for three years. In July, Oxfordshire County Council backed an application to extend its use until 2030 due to the "expected ongoing demand" generated by the Amazon Prime Video series. West Oxfordshire District Council is expected to make the final decision.
The parking arrangements are not the only planning issue concerning the television personality. Jeremy recently warned that uncertainty over local council decisions was putting pressure on his wider business operations. He said he had struggled to obtain permission to improve the surface of a field used by customers visiting his pub, despite being offered materials to make it firmer before winter.
Impact on Employees
The former Top Gear presenter said the uncertainty was affecting hundreds of employees and independent businesses relying on visitors attracted to the farm. "Nearly 300 people are employed by my various enterprises these days," he wrote. "And all of them want to know if their jobs are secure."
Returning to his defence of the Cotswolds, Jeremy dismissed the idea that its rural setting was a drawback for prospective residents. He pointed out that Sweeney had grown up in a similarly rural part of Washington State, adding: "Oh, and I've checked. Ms Sweeney, right, was raised in a lakeside home in a very rural part of Washington State where - and I know this because I've been there - it also goes dark at night."
