Councillors asked to resign over green space

Startforth’s parish councillors have been told to resign by a resident amid a row over a public green space.

The upset was sparked when the parish council in March began discussing the future of Church Bank Field because of the cost to repair three sections of its stone walls.

The council felt the field is rarely used, except as a thoroughfare, and that the cost of maintaining it needed to be weighed against the public good it offers. Among the options is a suggestion that it be sold.

Several residents who attended the parish council’s annual meeting in May opposed selling it.

At their latest meeting a resident who identified himself as Mr Edwards accused the parish council of neglecting the green space.

He said: “You are demonstrably failing in your stewardship duties towards the only [green space] you own and have responsibility for. Currently the site is in a very poor state, the banks of nettles adding to the impression of overall managed decline.

“If you can’t or won’t care for and stand up for Church Bank Field, then I urge you to stand down and new councillors take your place who will give it the care and profile it deserves.”

He described councillors as being dismissive, obstructive and hostile to his views on the issue.

He further accused Cllr Jayne Cox of having a conflict-of-interest last year when the parish council agreed to give Startforth Community Centre £5,000 to see it through its first year after being successfully transferred to a community charity.

Cllr Cox was a trustee of the charity as well as chairwoman of the parish council at the time.

Mr Edwards said, although Cllr Cox’s register of interest recorded her as a liaison between the charity and the parish council, it failed to mention that she was chairwoman of the trustees.

He described the issue as a potential resignation matter for both the clerk and Cllr Cox.

However, current parish council chairman Cllr Craig Baker denied the conflict of interest and said Cllr Cox had been completely transparent with the parish council and the public.

He added: “No councillors will be standing down.

“The field is being quite well looked after. No decision has ever been made to sell the field.

“The council will consider options. The council is accountable to its parishioners, including you, but we are not accountable to you directly about things we discuss. We will discuss whatever we like.”

However, he said Mr Edwards had sent the council an “abusive” email.

Quoting the email he said: “I experienced your response, stance and comments as disrespectful, obstructive, manipulative, controlling and bullying. In short, they are potentially of a bullying nature.”

Mr Edwards said he had reported the council to various external organisations.