A BITTER row has broken out between parish councils in County Durham and Darlington.
Since 1995, when the parishes in Darlington split from the County Durham parishes' association and formed their own breakaway group, they have been struggling to join the national body, the National Association of Local Councils.
Darlington's parishes submitted an application, which was supported by Cleveland and North Yorkshire, but blocked by County Durham.
Now Darlington borough council solicitor, Peter Kearsley, has been asked to step in on behalf of the parishes to challenge the legality of County Durham's objection.
He said: "It looks as if there is an attempt to use a veto, although this is a body that is supposed to be democratic."
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