But John Clare was last night standing by the comments he made on a Facebook post advertising a Durham Light Infantry (DLI) exhibition at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

He accompanied it with a statement that read: "No doubt someone will try to tell me that [Durham County Council] has betrayed the DLI by bringing it out to people in this way, instead of leaving it in that rotting unvisited concrete box at Aykley Heads."

Cllr Clare, who represents Aycliffe North and Middridge on Durham County Council, was referring to a decision to close the DLI Museum because the building was expensive to maintain and had run out of storage space.

Since then, most of the collection has been kept at a specialist facility in Sevenhills, near Spennymoor, where it can be seen by appointment, while the medal collection is on loan to Durham University.

But the Labour politician's words, posted on his timeline, has provoked anger amongst supporters and campaigners who fought the closure of the DLI Museum, in Durham, in 2016 – though Cllr Clare maintains the reference was to the building and not the collection.

Among them are The Faithful Durhams, a group set up to campaign against the closure and which still hopes to reopen a museum dedicated to the collection.

Member Diane Inglis branded the Newton Aycliffe councillor as "arrogant" and has called for an apology.

"He says he is not talking about the museum collection, it's the museum building," she said. "But people are still very emotional about it.

"It's disrespectful. The museum was home to thousands of personal, emotive items belonging to some of our county's heroes.

"Many people miss visiting the museum, miss going to look at items freely, instead of having to visit one of many sites the collection is now housed.

"Cllr Clare also seems to forget that this building was the focus for many people to remember the fallen, often gathering here, laying wreaths and especially honouring the heroes whose ashes are scattered around this 'rotting box'."

Cllr Clare, who is also a member of Great Aycliffe Town Council, has faced a backlash online and in a string of comments states that he had to block one "abusive person".

The retired history teacher has insisted that a distinction must be made between the building itself, which he said was "increasingly inadequate to the task", and the museum collection which he hopes will "flourish".

"The building itself had no intrinsic value and was no longer fit for purpose – what matters are the museum collection and the memorial grounds, both of which are being respected and cared for," said Cllr Clare.

"I care deeply about the DLI and its legacy. I care deeply that we create a secure and successful future for the DLI Museum.

"There is nothing to apologise for in that. Being pilloried in the social media has not made me change my opinion that it was the correct decision to close the building.”