Daily Mail. By morons for morons.
First off there is nothing in that article that suggests the Mail is taking sides.
Secondly it states 'Chipping Norton Set', not 'Residents of Chipping Norton'. There is a difference, 'Chipping Norton Set' is a figure of speech, 'Residents of Chipping Norton' would be specific but was not used.
'Chipping Norton Set' merely refers here, perhaps, to well-off 'townies' who move to the country and then often complain about activities that have taken place in the environs for some considerable time prior to their arrival. Or, it could refer to those self-important individuals who believe their life-long residency in, an often picturesque, village gives them some sort of superiority of opinion (think WI on steroids, if you will, or perhaps the local Mary Whitehouse-esque member of the parish council). It would be appropriate, for example, to refer to Gordon Sumner as 'Chipping Norton Set', even though he does not live anywhere near the place. It refers to a mindset, not a geographical location. It is typified by, although by no means exclusive to, the somewhat stereotypical resident of Chipping Norton, to-wit Clarkson
et al. Although of course it maybe somewhat ironic to include Clarkson as he is generally pretty 'onside' when it comes to H.M. Armed Forces.
Too many people have this knee-jerk reaction to anything written in the Mail. To me it says more of them than the paper.
No, I neither work for nor read the Mail.