DOCUMENTARY makers will carry on filming a controversial television documentary in Southampton despite an open letter from community leaders calling on them to axe it.

Civic chiefs joined forces with representatives from the Derby Road area in a bid to get Channel 4 to stop programme makers Love Productions filming Immigration Street.

As revealed in today's Daily Echo, they voiced their fears over the impact of the programme, saying it could lead to an increase in racism and violence.

Drafted by Southampton Connect, the letter describes the programme - which will focus on residents in the Derby Road area of the city - as “ill named and ill-advised”.

Their fears are founded on a previous programme by Love Productions - Benefit Street, which is the forerunner to Immigration Street - filmed in Birmingham.

They said the community in James Turner Street was left in “disarray” after Benefits Street was filmed there.

Council leader Simon Letts, MP Alan Whitehead and Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes were among the figures to sign the letter along with council communities chief Satvir Kaur.

But their letter has been rejected.

A spokesman for Channel 4 said: “All the filming has and will continue to follow strict protocols in accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and only those contributors who have been extensively briefed and given their informed consent to appear will feature.

“We take any request to withdraw consent seriously and would want to look at the reasons why people might wish to withdraw consent before making any final decisions.”

They also deny “any suggestion producers have targeted vulnerable people”.

The spokesman added: “Immigration is one of the most fiercely debated and divisive issues in Britain so it is vital that a public service broadcaster such as Channel 4 provides programming exploring these kinds of issues.

“However, Immigration Street does not purport to provide the definitive account of immigration in the UK - it will document life on a street in Southampton where the mix of residents has been transformed over time and continues to evolve as a result of immigration.”

Satvir Kaur said it was “disappointing that they're not taking residents concerns and the city's agencies seriously enough”.

She said: “As a partly publically owned broadcaster I find it disgusting that Channel 4 hasn't taken into account the legitimate concerns of the community.

“Ultimately this is a community that feels as though they have been victimised by Love Productions.

“This is a community and a city that Channel 4 looking to represent fairly and accurately and rather than working with that community and addressing our concerns they're being dismissive.”