Council’s Web needs ‘spice up’ -

Following complaints that its website is “unimaginative” and “unappealing”, the local authority is taking steps to improve the service by making it more user friendly.

And the council is also keenly aware of the importance of making use of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter – something it has so far failed to capitalise on.

At the latest meeting of the policy and resources committee in Smiley Buildings in Larne a council officer told members that some of the work to improve the online facilities was “coming to fruition”.

Cllr Jim Brown felt the blue and white theme of the council’s home page was “not imaginative”.

“We need to spice up our website,” he said, suggesting the council should add a “splash of colour and some photographs”.

Echoing Cllr Brown’s comments, Cllr Gordon Lyons claimed Mid and East Antrim had been lagging behind other councils when it came to the use of social media.

And he urged the local authority to give some consideration to setting up a Twitter handle, urging that it be kept “short and succinct”, in a bid to make it as user friendly as possible.

Meanwhile, Cllr Paul Maguire felt members of the public should be able to use the council website to easily identify councillors by district electoral areas (DEAs).

The Braid representative added: “I have been contacted by people from the Larne and Carrick areas, talking to me about areas I know nothing about.

“The former Ballymena website allowed people to identify councillors by DEA. Something similar should be done for Mid and East Antrim, as it would make more convenient for people.”

The council officer said she would be happy to take members views on board.