A LAUNCESTON resident has raised concern that some people think online Facebook noticeboards are run by the town council.

Joan Heaton, who is a parish councillor on St Stephens by Launceston Rural Parish Council, told Launceston town councillors at their meeting on November 21 that having conducted a straw poll, 100% of people she asked believed ‘Launceston Community Noticeboard’ and ‘Launceston Matters’ Facebook pages were run by the town council.

“It’s not just myself, but colleagues had considered these sites to be official — people working in local government who are quite well informed,” she said. We couldn’t understand why posts of community interest were being taken down.”

Mrs Heaton said she had been informed by the town clerk that these Facebook sites are not affiliated with the town council, but asked if the council could make more residents aware of this.

Mayor Cllr Margaret Young said: “Facebook is a good weapon, or not so good at times. It does get abused, it does get used rightly or wrongly. I think it’s a very dangerous way of passing information on.”