THE Mayor of Andover has condemned the social media use of some members of the town council, after statements aimed at council officers have been posted in Facebook groups in recent weeks.

In a statement read at a full council meeting on Wednesday, September 15, Cllr Barbara Long called out the behaviour of some members who have taken to social media to complain about the work of people employed by the council, calling 'inappropriate' and 'distasteful'.

One example, posted on Thursday, September 9 by Cllr Christopher Ecclestone to the Politics in Andover Facebook group, read: “How many Andover Town Council staff does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One to hold the bulb and five to rotate the ladder. The old joke never fails to be relevant in Andover where staff have sent now out the agendas to councillors and the recipients have been hit with £1.50 overage [...] after all these years the incompetence never fails to amaze me.”

Condemning such posts, Cllr Long said that the conduct was “dragging down the council’s reputation”.

She added: “They are distasteful, and in most cases factually inaccurate. Expressing half-truths in a public forum is not acceptable. Continued public berating is inappropriate.”

Cllr Long warned members that, should they fail to curb their posting, she foresees “a repeat of the awkward situation we faced last year” in which the then Mayor Cllr Richard Rowles took the decision to temporarily shut down the council office, placing staff on leave and appointing an interim clerk while grievances against councillors were investigated.

Cllr Long said: “I would urge members to stop, while the situation is reversible.”