West Oxfordshire Council has imposed ‘safety precautions’ after death threats were made to councillors and local residents who oppose the extension of a car park at TV celebrity Jeremy Clarkson’s farm.
The council said it was aware of at least two death threats to people opposing the activity at the farm site, one to a councillor and one to a member of the public.
Security was present at a hearing held by the planning inspectorate over the use of buildings at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire.
A final decision on the plans will be published in the coming weeks.
The former Top Gear presenter's planning battle with the local authority was featured in the TV series Clarkson's Farm.
A spokesperson for the council said: ‘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 two of Clarkson's Farm.
‘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.’
