Council freezes Twitter account after insult gaffe

A local newspaper has reported that a member of the council's staff used the account to criticise the reporter, claiming 'a squirrel could have run rings' around her after she had interviewed TV personality Esther Rantzen.

The council claim that the post was supposed to be a private message, but was instead published for all to see.

It was then forced to post a further message which said: 'A few have picked up on a tweet about Esther R interview that was meant to be a PM (private message). No offence intended to ES (Evening Standard) lady! Still learning here!'

The council has since decided to freeze the Your Croydon account admitting it had no rules about using social networking sites under official publications, and that the name Your Croydon was used without 'authority or managerial knowledge'.

A spokesman said: 'We need someone to find out how Twitter works, review its potential and then enlighten others as to how best it may be used for legitimate, professional purposes.

'As yet there are no rules about using this kind of channel.

'As with email and the internet a few years back, guidelines will be developed if the media enters common usage.

'Exploring how it might be used is a precursor to this.

'For now we consider it frozen.

'It’s the firm belief that the Your Croydon publication needs to concentrate on developing its identity in print, not cyberspace.'

Croydon's Labour opposition leader, has attacked the council over the gaffe.

Councillor Tony Newman said: 'It is completely wrong and disgraceful. It is an abuse of taxpayers’ money.

'How anyone could ever suggest that a public body could control a Twitter account is beyond me.'

Coun Newman said the council had known about the Twitter account, having been the subject of talks in the town hall, and it had launched Your Croydon to 'undermine and attack local media'.

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