The Farmer's Dog: Jeremy Clarkson's new pub will open Friday as locals fear 'chaos'

The former Top Gear presenter and farmer, 64, initially thought The Windmill pub on the A40 near Burford wouldn't be open to the public until 2025.

However he confirmed in a social media post that it will open at 12pm on Friday August 23.

He has also renamed the pub The Farmer's Dog.

Mr Clarkson has put up a giant 5,000 square foot marquee and outdoor furniture for punters in the five-acre grounds of the pub with sweeping views across the Windrush Valley.

Temporary events notices posted on the West Oxfordshire District Council website already suggested the doors were set to open early for August Bank Holiday weekend.

And the district council has been "advising and supporting" Mr Clarkson with assistance from Oxfordshire County Council.

"But this has been planned at short notice by him so it may have teething problems," said WODC leader Andy Graham.

Traffic measures are being introduced including dropping the speed limit on the Burford roundabout from 60mph to 40mph and work is currently ongoing to improve bus connections by installing new bus stops and paths.

However, county and district councillor Liam Walker said he wanted more mitigations in place.

He said: "It is important Oxfordshire County Council are supportive but also ensuring lessons have been learnt from the farm shop."

He is asking for double yellow lines around the pub and to explore the closure of the lay-by over the road.

But he said the county council "seem reluctant to do both those things".

He said: "I am concerned people will park in the lay-by when the car park for the pub is full and they will then need to cross a very busy A40.

"We have seen with the farm shop that people visit even when closed to take selfies with the signage so I suspect the same will happen here and the lay-by offers that easy option to do so.

"There is the potential that this will end up being Farm Shop chaos mark 2 and I will be disappointed if that's the case as there has been plenty of time and learnings to make sure this is safe for visitors and those passing by.

"We will find out at the weekend whether more will need to be done."

He added: "I know Clarkson has approached a nearby landowner to explore options for another car park but as yet I’m not sure if this has been agreed."

Sharing his concerns about traffic on Facebook, Mr Walker said the post 'exploded' with over 300 comments.

Some warned the council not to repeat past mistakes it made over Diddly Squat Farm Shop roughly 10 miles away.

The long-running dispute over the local authority's initial refusal to grant permission to extend the car park - later granted on appeal - and to build a restaurant captivated audiences of hit TV series Clarkson's Farm.

One said: "If the council hadn’t had been so petty and allowed Clarkson to convert the old lambing shed into a restaurant, which had ample car parking, then he wouldn’t have had to purchase the pub in order to use his, and other local farmers, meat and vegetables in order to make a profit."

Another said he must be allowed "to make a car park as big as he needs for the business to operate safely".

The inhabitants of the nearest village Asthall Leigh have so far given Mr Clarkson’s big plans the benefit of the doubt while raising concerns about traffic.

But one resident of a nearby Swinbrook village said: "My issue is if you put into a satnav his film set A (the farm shop) to his film set B (the pub) it takes you right through Swinbrook.

"It will be chaos and devastating for residents."

Others said "can’t wait for traffic in Burford to be backlogged even worse every day when it opens" and "Love Clarkson and glad to have him here but I gotta admit that I’m dreading the school run from Minster to Burford when he opens".

One local added: "Let chaos commence".

A West Oxfordshire District Council spokesperson said: “We are always keen to support local businesses and we have had initial conversations with Mr Clarkson and his team about the Windmill pub.

"We have provided advice and we are also practically supporting with various elements of opening the pub such as licensing, water supply and food safety.

"The county council are leading on the issues around parking and traffic, and are putting in place various measures.

“We will continue to work with the pub’s owners and management as well as partners, such as the county council, to support the business while also helping to minimise the potential impact on local residents and other businesses.”