Much has been said recently about the proposals to build a new Worthing College, funded by the sale of part of its site to Asda.

Sadly, a great deal of it has been based on ignorance. As the proposals will soon be determined by Worthing Borough Council, some of the misinformation needs to be corrected. The future of post-16 education in our town is too important to be used as a political football.

Here are some myths exploded:

Myth: a new college is not needed. Fact: it is urgently required. Evidence: the Learning and Skills Council, the official body whose job it is to make such judgments, has stated this.

Myth: there will be chaos on local roads. Fact: the roads will be less congested and safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Evidence: The Highways Authority, the official body whose job it is to make such judgments, has stated this.

Myth: the loss of playing fields will be damaging to sport. Fact: the loss of fields is more than offset by the provision of new sports facilities. Evidence: Sport England, the official body whose job it is to make such judgments, decided this.

Myth: all the local shops will be forced to close down. Fact: a store situated on the edge of a local centre has huge potential to regenerate the whole centre. Evidence: previous experience up and down the country and government policy.

Myth: the development will destroy a quiet, residential area. Fact: the area is a bustling commercial centre with large office buildings, a leisure centre, a main road and rail links. Evidence: open your eyes and look.

Myth: house prices will fall. Fact: they might rise. Evidence: ask any estate agent. Prices tend to rise when a popular shop such as Asda is situated nearby.

Myth: Asda is part of an evil and unscrupulous company, Wal-Mart. Fact: Asda is probably the most community-minded of all national chains and has been voted best employer in national polls. Its low prices and high quality are of great benefit to the shopper. Evidence: can the millions of UK citizens who shop at Asda be wrong?

Myth: if the college sold its site for residential development, Asda would not be needed. Fact: a high value, such as for retail use, is essential if a new college is to be funded. Evidence: the figures just don't add up if the site is sold for residential use and that is confirmed by our funding agency.

The college has relied on hard, professional work in order to make this project become reality.

It has never made any claim that can't be proven by hard facts. We now ask those who make public statements without any basis of fact (or any contact with the college for that matter) to leave the decisions to the proper legal process.

The facts speak for themselves.

This is a project that is right for Worthing and it must be carried through to completion, for the benefit of the vast majority.

Principal, Worthing College,

-Bolsover Road, Worthing