Council drops 'shop online' Facebook post after backlash

Council bosses have removed a social media post which urged the residents of one city to avoid the high street for their Christmas shopping after an intense backlash.

In the post Salford council said: "If you've still got Christmas shopping to do, and you're planning to go to town or elsewhere, sack it off and do it online instead, it's gonna be hammered now."

A council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, on this occasion, the tongue-in-cheek tone was slightly off. It was not intended to cause concern, but we responded quickly and removed the post."

One person left a comment below the post saying the council should be "supporting local businesses not encouraging locals to avoid them".

Councillor Bob Clarke, leader of Salford Conservative group, told the Local Decmocracy Reporting Service: "We should be supporting our local shops as best as possible, and probably think things through before pressing the send button.

"It is slightly inappropriate, especially with the problems businesses are having with the current government with business rates and consumer confidence."

The council spokesperson said: "Just two weeks ago we featured shopping local on our social media accounts, with a range of posts linked to the Small Business Saturday initiative and the free parking we offer at council car parks on Saturdays in the run up to Christmas.

"These social media posts reached over 22,000 accounts generating shares, likes, reactions and comments on our various accounts.

"This work follows on from our award-winning Home is on your High Street campaign which we ran in 2022, which was aimed at encouraging people to return to local high streets after the Covid pandemic."

Salford council stressed that it was a "huge advocate" of Salford's high streets and shopping local.

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