Plans by former footballer and actor Vinnie Jones to create a luxury shooting retreat at his West Sussex farm have ignited a major public controversy, with more than 12,000 people signing a petition against the proposal.
Public Outcry Over Farm Development
Vinnie Jones has submitted a planning application to Chichester District Council for a development at Blackwool Farm in Ebernoe. The project aims to convert vacant farm buildings into seven units of private, bespoke accommodation designed to host shooting parties for rural sporting activities.
The application, which also involves demolishing an existing farm building and constructing new plant and boiler units, has been met with fierce opposition. A campaign organised by Protect the Wild has gathered significant momentum, urging the council and the South Downs National Park Authority to reject the plans.
Wildlife and Public Access Concerns
Critics argue the development would place unacceptable strain on local wildlife and undermine the core purpose of a national park. The proposed site is adjacent to Ebernoe Common, which is managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
In an open letter to the authorities, campaigners stated: "A development designed to accommodate shooting parties - however it is phrased in planning language - adds further strain to wildlife that should be protected, not exploited." They emphasised that national parks are for walking, nature recovery, and public access, not for "commercialised bloodsports or luxury shooting retreats."
The letter further contends that approving the application would hand over part of a "shared national landscape to a tiny, wealthy minority" at the direct expense of the wildlife the National Park Authority is legally bound to protect.
Decision Pending from Council
Alongside the petition, numerous individuals have submitted formal letters of objection to the South Downs National Park Authority. One objector argued that National Parks should "exist to protect wildlife, not to play host to shooting tourism."
A final verdict on the planning application will be delivered by Chichester District Council at a future date. The decision will determine whether the project, which has sparked one of the largest local planning controversies in recent memory, can proceed.
