STAFF at a crazy golf course have fiercely defended their beloved giant shark at the centre of a furious planning row.
The enormous 30ft plastic Great White has been caught in the middle of a campaign directed by critics who moan it is a “symbol of slaughter and destruction”.
The shark was installed in August last year but is threatened by a complaint on a retrospective planning request Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd
The plastic 30ft shark is just a mile down the road from Brighton Pier Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd
Workers at Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf on Brighton Seafront have been left “baffled” by whining resident complaints about one of their most popular attractions.
The kids’ mini golf course is just down the road from Brighton Pier and is a stones throw away from the sea.
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The fibreglass shark is named Bruce after the infamous antagonist of Jaws and leader of the “Fish are Friends” group in Finding Nemo.
The ocean view joint seems the perfect home for Bruce who became the city’s latest nautical resident in August last year.
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Golf players George and Marina love the shark Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd
Jungle Rumble customer Christopher Locke said Bruce the shark is ‘wonderful’ Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd
Complaints are concerned the plastic creature portrays sharks as criminals Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd
Railway track worker Morris thinks complaints are ‘stupid and silly’ Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd
But trouble started brewing when a witch hunt of environmentalists set their sights on the plastic beast, claiming he’s portraying sharks as “criminals” and giving them a bad name.
Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf applied for retrospective planning permission earlier this month.
But one keyboard warrior submitted an objection hoping to scupper the attraction’s centrepiece.
The complaint said: “It is ugly but also 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.”
Since then the campaign against Bruce has snowballed with hateful comments online branding him “revolting, grisly and repulsive”.
But staff at the golf course say the shark is adored by customers who flock to the seaside attraction to compete underneath the huge fish.
Jungle Rumble manager Abby Parry told The Jattvibe: “We started to see some stuff online that people were unhappy, but obviously we’re a kids’ mini golf place on the beach.
“We’re just baffled, it’s been blown up so big.
“It’s not like it’s our only animal themed thing here.
“I don’t really understand how having an animal on a children’s mini golf is portraying it as criminal, it’s not like there’s blood pouring out of it.
“Everyone that plays golf requests Bruce the shark’s Captain Hook course, we’ve had nothing but positive feedback.
“So it was disheartening to see all this slander online when we work hard to keep the business afloat and make sure people have a good time here.
“For them to drag the name of the whole venue is a bit disheartening.”
Even during The Jattvibe’s visit on a murky and drizzly day customers battled through the rain to play golf on the course.
Players George and Marina were staunch supporters of the shark and said it was one of their favourite parts of the attraction.
George from Streatham said: “I think it looks nice, the complaints are because people haven’t got anything else to do, they need to go and get a job.
“When you’ve got people starving, talking about stuff like this seems irrelevant.
“I think it’s beautiful, sharks are beautiful animals.
“It doesn’t mean anything to the shark.”
Vintage clothes dealer Christopher Locke visits Jungle Rumble every day for his morning coffee.
He said: “I think it’s a great idea, it’s not tacky and is very well done, if it was lit up and said bingo or fish and chips then I don’t think it would be very nice.
“But it’s very tasteful, it’s a good idea for Brighton, it’s actually necessary because we need to try to have something a bit different.
“Brighton is different, it’s always been like that so I think it’s a positive thing.
“It’s wonderful.
“Jungle Rumble is very popular with people all over the country and some people will complain about anything.
“If it had neon lights all over it then it would be different but I think it’s quite cool.”
Bruce the shark hangs above the historic Volk’s Electric Railway which passes right next to the golf course.
Track worker Morris sees Bruce every day and is a big fan of the ocean beast.
He said: “I think it’s brilliant, I think the complaints are stupid and silly.”
Tied up in the same retrospective planning request as the shark is a toilet opened by the golf course which visitors to the nearby public playground can use free of charge.
But if the plastic shark is booted from Jungle Rumble by the council, it will mean the toilets have to go as well.
A heritage assessment notes the shark is “clearly visible” from the beach, Madeira Drive and Madeira Terrace.
It found that as Brighton seafront has historically hosted activities like mini golf, the new addition fits well with the area.
It said: “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.”
Brighton and Hove City Council are set to decide on the application at a future date which will seal Bruce the shark’s fate.
