RESIDENTS of a Whitehaven estate have written to the Prime Minister as they fear their concerns are being ignored like those of Grenfell Tower.

The Bay Vista Residents Group has written to Boris Johnson to highlight concerns about the county council's flooding and development team.

They told the PM: "We have for the past three years been subject to inconsistent and contradictory performance issued by their flood and development team during planning applications. This advice affects the safety of 86 homes.

"Our fight seems endless and we are now drawing analogies to Grenfell Tower residents, where they voiced concerns to Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council but were ignored and quoted 'only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence'.

"Whilst Grenfell sadly took the lives of 72 people and injured a further, we do not want out concerns to result in any injury or loss."

The group forwarded to the PM a letter it has written to Katherine Fairclough, chief executive at Cumbria County Council.

The concerns stem from an application to build 50 homes on land to the South of Elizabeth Crescent.

The group highlighted issues about access, a substandard junction with poor visibility and lack of access for emergency vehicles.

The group claims the county council's department acted "with contempt and deceit".

Its letter said: "We are utterly bewildered by the inconsistent and contradictory decision making of the flood and development team, where their acts and omissions relate to the safety of our homes.

"We see similarities that were written about Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council and the way they behaved over several years towards the concerned residents of Grenfell Tower prior to the sad occurrence of the worst residential fire since the second world war. Our voice and concerns are not welcome or taken seriously, just as the residents of Grenfell Tower's weren't."

A spokesman for the county council said: “The council is aware of the group’s concerns and a review is currently underway. The council is handling this complaint through its usual protocols and will continue to work with the with the group to understand and discuss their concerns.”