A TOWN council is angry at what it said was a snub by golf club members, following a change of name.

Peterlee Town Council has expressed disappointment at the decision to shorten the name of Castle Eden and Peterlee Golf Club.

Club members agreed last year to change its name to the Castle Eden Golf Club.

Town clerk John Arthur said the freehold for land to extend the course was sold to the golf club by the former Peterlee Development Corporation 25 years ago, at lower than the market rate.

He said this was in the belief that the club would continue to be directly associated with the town through its title.

But he said this was overlooked in the drafting of the agreement.

He said: "It would seem elements within the golf club wish to disassociate themselves from Peterlee, a decision which both deeply saddens and angers many of the town council.

"At a time when the town has undergone tremendous change with both private and public sector investment, the town council would have hoped that such a prestigious facility as the golf club would have continued to give their support.

"While the town council can do nothing legally to address this situation, a number of the more senior members of the club, who were involved with the land deal at the time, are similarly disappointed by the stance the club has taken on this matter."

He urged the club to reconsider and to put Peterlee back in the name.

Golf club secretary David Livingston denied it was snobbery.

He said: "The council seems to think we are being snobby. But that is not the case. There is nothing untoward about the name change.

"It is a members' club and the members decided to change the name just to make it a simpler title."