TORY Westminster council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) “totally ignored” warnings of workers illegally living on a construction site, Unite said today.

The union raised concerns after a group of migrant workers involved in renovating several apartment blocks at Abercorn Place Estate in St Johns Wood, north London, were found to be living on the site.

Unite regional officer Paul Lomax wrote to the Westminster City Council (WCC) chief executive, the council’s building control department and the HSE with his concerns, urging them to take swift action as the workers were potentially in serious physical danger.

But, despite his urgent letter, Mr Lomax has received no response to his serious concerns a fortnight later.

He said: “It is highly alarming that, after raising serious safety questions where workers face death or serious injury, Unite’s concerns have been totally ignored.

“Workers must never be allowed to live on a construction site, the potential for serious injury is huge and there are also massive occupational health issues that need to be considered.”

Mr Lomax added that it was “absolutely imperative that Westminster council and the HSE immediately take responsibility for this dangerous site.”

WCC Labour councillor Paul Dimoldenberg called for an inquiry into property owner Kunta Kinte Ltd last year after the company snapped up the freehold of the site and almost all of the 34 properties, which he said summed up “all that is rotten about Conservative housing policies.”

He said that the allegations “must be investigated as a matter of urgency by the HSE,” adding: “The safety of those working on the site needs to be protected at all times.”

An HSE spokesperson said: “HSE has not yet received any communication from Unite on this matter.”

WCC did not respond to a request for comment at the time of going to print, but the council’s building control department told Mr Dimoldenberg that the matter should be dealt with by HSE.

A Unite spokesman responded: “The lives of workers are being endangered and yet these bodies are more concerned about hiding behind regulations than relieving the danger and exploitation that workers are facing.”