Startforth’s parish councillors have been told to resign by a resident amid a row over a public green space. At their latest meeting a resident who identified himself as Mr Edwards accused the parish council of neglecting the green space. Cllr Cox was a trustee of the charity as well as chairwoman of the parish council at the time. 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.