Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswolds pub faces safety questions as parking and pedestrian concerns are raised
Serious concerns about parking and pedestrian safety have been raised at Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswolds pub.
The Farmer’s Dog, along the A40 in Asthall near Burford, recently applied to West Oxfordshire District Council to use a nearby farmer’s field as an overflow car park.
Having opened in summer 2024, thousands of people from across the world have flocked to the popular pub which starred in the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm.
The 65-year-old former Top Gear and Grand Tour host bought the former Windmill pub for a reported £1m.
One of the focuses of the Amazon Prime TV series was his ongoing battle with the council to get planning permission at Diddly Squat farm, in Chadlington.
But unlike his Diddly Squat Farm Shop, the Farmer’s Dog hasn’t had the same level of planning issues with the local authority.
Widford resident Mark Leslie, who lives about one mile from The Farmer’s Dog, said he has “serious concerns” about the current parking and access arrangements.
He claimed they have created “significant highway safety issues” and called for them to be addressed.
He said: “Vehicles often queue in both directions on the B4047 waiting to turn into the field.
“This is a fast rural road with limited visibility – the newly created car park access is poorly sited on a blind inclined bend – and queues or turning vehicles cause sudden braking, overtaking, and general congestion.”
Mr Leslie said pedestrian safety is a “major concern” and added: “Visitors park in the field and walk to and from the venue, crossing both the B4047 and a narrow country lane.
“There are no adequate pavements or controlled crossing points resulting in large groups of pedestrians regularly walking in the carriageway.
“This presents an obvious and serious safety risk and presents an accident waiting to happen.”
Asthall Manor owner Rosie Pearson said there is “no reason to think that the high demand will drop any time soon” ahead of a new series coming in May.
Ms Pearson, who is also the West Oxfordshire Green Party leader, added: “The role of traffic marshals includes ‘manage pedestrian movements’.
“Upon observation, it is clear that this is not happening, and upon enquiry, the traffic marshals admit that the pedestrians are often not co-operative in having their movements managed.”
Swinbrook resident Lorretta Newton said there is “no alternative” to the proposed overflow car park for The Farmer’s Dog.
“The [car] park is staffed at the busiest times and have got to know the local residents, trying their best to make sure we are not held up,” she said.
Planning agents for Mr Clarkson said that the purpose of the car park and vehicular access proposals are to “ensure that visitors of The Farmer’s Dog can safely access the site, as well as ensuring no errant parking occurs onto the B4047”.
West Oxfordshire District Council will decide on the application in due course.