Jeremy Clarkson fans drive councillor to quit job over ‘death threats’-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

Clarkson’s Farm fans have been inundating a Cotswold’s councillor with ‘death threats’ (Picture: REX)

A councillor who was locked in loggerheads with Jeremy Clarkson over his Diddly Squat farm has quit after being bombarded with ‘death threats’ by Clarkson’s Farm fans.

The former Top Gear star, 63, has been followed by cameras over the past few years after he decided to try his hand at farming after purchasing land in the Cotswolds.

However, in more recent times he’s come to blows with his local council, who have knocked back proposals for more parking and establishing a restaurant on site.

But now a councillor for West Oxfordshire District Council, who represents the area in which Jeremy’s farm is based in Chipping Norton, has stepped down after furious Clarkson’s Farm fans began targeting him.

Dean Temple, 46, was the sole representative for the Chadlington and Churchill ward and had opposed several of Clarkson’s plans, such as his proposition to set up a restaurant where he wanted to plate up local produce.

He has now left his position, admitting doing so was ‘one hundred per cent’ influenced by the abuse from disgruntled TV viewers.

Jeremy Clarkson has been clashing with his local council over planning proposals (Picture: Amazon/ Everett/ Shutterstock)

Cllr Temple told The Daily Star then when he made the decision to stand for the role, he was told the ward was ‘a nice quiet place where nothing ever happens’, however that quickly changed after the planning rows with Clarkson.

‘All of a sudden I was getting calls, death threats and from all over the world,’ he said.

He is now standing down and seeking election in nearby Witney.

Dean Temple has now stood down from his role (Picture: Jeff Gilbert/REX/Shutterstock)

Last year he told the Oxford Mail that he had an inbox that ‘can only be described as a cesspit’.

‘I’ve had abuse from all over the world. On the messages I have received I have tended to ignore those that are aggressive, nasty or contain outright allegations of “corruption”, “backhanders” and “you just don’t like him”.

‘Those that have asked genuine questions I have tried to engage with and offer my own point of view while explaining the finer points of planning law.’

However, he did not blame Clarkson for being targeted by disgruntled Clarkson’s Farm fans.

He instead said he believed the TV star had behaved ‘in a very fair and honest way’ and had not used his ‘influence’ to make life difficult for councillors.

‘Sadly, some of his fans haven’t followed his example which is not his fault,’ he added.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Amazon Prime Video and representatives for Jeremy Clarkson.

Clarkson’s Farm is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

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