Simon Barnes (Letters, June 12) accuses Ivor Caplin of supporting the new stadium at Falmer and "the destruction of downland there".

Mr Barnes, please take a look at the proposed site (as the councillors did). You will see that downland is not being destroyed. Unless I am mistaken, the stadium site is surrounded on all four sides by either buildings, roads or railway lines. It will also be built between two sprawling universities, as councillors indicated. This can hardly be described as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Nor should it be considered to be downland when it clearly is not.

Village Way North is the only realistic site for the stadium, despite the objections of a handful of selfish Nimbys. Their campaign has never once stated their real reason for not wanting the stadium, which is, clearly, being anti-football fans as opposed to anti-stadium.

Withdean residents had the same feelings, waged a campaign headed by a small number of narrow-minded people and their fears were proven to be unfounded.

Ask any of them now if they have been under siege when the Albion play

home games. Threatened? Attacked? Robbed? Has the crime rate soared in Withdean since we arrived?

-Robert Martin, Barnwood Court, Guildford