SCORES of people voiced their opposition to a highrise student development in Southampton at a fiery public meeting last night.

Community leaders joined St Mary’s residents, councillors and Test MP Alan Whitehead to hear more about two tower blocks that would house 1,500 students in the heart of the city .

Respresentatives from developers Liberty Living and Bouygues were at the meeting at Newtown Youth Centre where many people expressed their fears over issues including car parking spaces, congestion and antisocial behaviour.

For many it was a chance to speak to developers for the first time.

Arshad Sharif, chairman of the Muslim Council of Southampton, said: “We have problems with parking anyway and you want to put six spaces and one disabled parking space here? I find it obscene.”

Another resident, who did not want to be named, added: “The development should be outside the city. There are enough students living here as it is.”

Madan Vashishta said: “Do we have any figures of population density in this area? It seems to be one of the most densely populated parts of Southampton.”