Jeremy Clarkson is appealing after being told to shut down the restaurant on his Diddly Squat Farm.
The Grand Tour presenter, 62, opened the eatery in July after previously having two planning applications rejected by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC).
The council took action in August, saying the parking, toilets, traffic, along with the dining of the restaurant, was “visually intrusive and harmful” to the Cotswolds area.
They explained: “The unlawful use of Diddly Squat Farm by reason of its nature, scale and siting is unsustainable and incompatible with its open countryside location."
The WDOC then ordered the closure of the restaurant or anything selling food that could be consumed on the farm as well as ordering the removal of dining tables, chairs, parasols, picnic tables, and mobile toilet.
But Jeremy isn't having any of it.
Agents working on behalf of the former Top Gear host say he is not in breach of planning laws, claiming the council’s decision is “excessive”.
The John Phillips Planning Consultancy wrote in their September 9 appeal that existing planning permission gives them the right to use the farm as a restaurant, and there has been no “material change” to the land.
The appeal adds that Diddly Squat’s sale of food and use of tables and chairs are all “lawful” and it would take longer than the six weeks that the council has given them to remove the items.
The Planning Inspectorate, a Government agency, has accepted Jeremy's appeal - but is yet to set a date for a hearing.
Speaking about the star's decision to appeal, the WDOC 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.”
It added an inspector will decide the appeal and the council will explain why it “considers the notice should be upheld and the appeal dismissed”.
The father-of-three bought the farm in 2008, which used to be run by a villager, but after they retired, the presenter decided to run the farm himself in 2019.
The venture is now a huge hit with visitors after Amazon picked up the Clarkson’s Farm series, in which the outspoken host gets to grips which his new business, in June.
However, the amount of people the farm has since attracted is said to have angered locals, who are probably not used to seeing so many people frequenting the tranquil idyll.
In March, Jeremy reapplied for planning permission for a car park extension on his farm and a “new storage compound and associated landscaping”.
But this was rejected in May by WODC, which said due to the location, size and design the proposed development would “have a visually intrusive and harmful impact on the rural character, scenic beauty and tranquillity” of the area.
The Mirror has contacted Jeremy's representatives for comment.
