Jump the shark? Mini-golf beast accused of making animals look like crooks

By Isobel Williams

A 9.5m-tall fake shark on a crazy golf course has triggered a planning row - over claims it unfairly depicts the species as "criminals."

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf installed the feature on its Brighton seafront course in August last year.

The shark - made of fiberglass - hangs from a gallows-like structure over one of the pirate-themed site's holes

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf applied for retrospective planning permission last month.

But an objection has now been submitted - claiming the shark is "ugly" and "very offensive".

The comment, posted on August 29, said: "I would like to submit an objection to the Large Shark being held up on a gallows.

"It is ugly but also its very offensive to have a marine animal being depicted as a criminal having been slaughtered for no reason.

"Sharks are a vital form of marine life and should be protected if we are to regain healthy seas which can help mend our planet.

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"There is the most amazing story of our sea rewilding and returning huge amounts of different species and it therefore feel compleatly inappropiate to have a symbol of slaughter and destruction in a children's play area such as mini golf.

"We need to educated our kids to protect and fight to preserve our wildernesses and seas. Not to hunt and destroy such a vital species in our ecosystem."

A heritage assessment - viewable online - notes that the shark is “clearly visible” from the beach, Madeira Drive and Madeira Terrace.

But it found that with Brighton seafront historically being used for recreational activities such as mini golf, the new additions fit well with area.

It reads: “The works are therefore considered to represent contemporary additions associated with the established recreational use of this part of Brighton's lower seafront without detracting from the significance of the East Cliff Conservation Area or the setting and significance of nearby designated heritage assets.”

The plans also passed biodiversity checks as it is within an existing site and so has no substantial environmental impact.

Brighton & Hove City Council will decide on the application at a later date.

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf declined to comment.