“IMMIGRATION Street is not for us.”

That was the message that came loud and clear message from opponents of a controversial documentary on life in a Southampton community as they made a fresh bid to make programme-makers ditch their plans.

Concerned residents took to the streets in a rally to get their voices heard ahead of the latest in a series of public meetings about the plans to make a TV show set in Derby Road, set to air later this year.

And once again they told how they refuse to give up their battle to stop the programme in its tracks as they urged more people to come out and join them in another demonstration being planned for outside the channel’s London offices this weekend.

This comes as key Southampton officials are set for a face to face meeting with Channel 4 bosses this Friday when they visit the city.

Daily Echo:

Protesters marched from Solent University’s East Park Terrace campus through St Mary’s and along Derby Road carrying placards for a public meeting on Saturday attended by more than 50 people.

Both this and next weekend’s protest have been organised by Newtown Residents’ Association (NRA), Southampton Communities Alliance and Third Age Centre and unions.

Southampton city councillor Satvir Kaur told those gathered: “They’re going from city to city ripping up communities and people’s lives for entertainment and money, and next week is when we turn around and say enough is enough.

“This is not a play. These are ordinary people living ordinary lives, just let us carry on.”

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said people coming together to oppose the programme was the only positive result to come from what was happening and that he believed the strong opposition to the project was giving Channel 4 second thoughts.

He said: “[Channel 4] know we’re here and we won’t go away and they have got to address these concerns. It’s a battle that still can be won.”

Many residents told the Daily Echo how they feared the programme could have a detrimental impact on the St Mary’s community.

David Roath, 44, of Cranbury Avenue, who has lived in the community all his life, said: “I think it’s going to give our area a bad profile, but our city is bigger and better, it will not let them.”

Daily Echo:

Pat O’Dell, vice-chairman of NRA, said she had been told by the producers that not as many residents had signed up as they would have liked.

Daily Echo:

Chris Bocker, 44, of Derby Road, who pulled out of the series, said: “It’s not about the real people in the community. They want to make it into a mediocre thing, a comedy sketch like Benefits Street.”