Two Grimsby, Liberal Democrat Councillors have turned to social networking to keep residents up to date with the state of their ward – with great success.

Councillor Les Bonner (Lib Dem, Yarborough) and Councillor Steve Beasant (Lib Dem, East Marsh) have their own blogs and also use Twitter and Facebook.

The last few months councillors have seen record numbers hitting their sites with well over 50,000 hits a month on each blog, and have scores of Twitter followers and Facebook friends from residents of their ward.

Councillor Beasant’s site was recently named the top website by Liberal Democrat Voice, beating the influential Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Vincent Cable into second place, based on the number of hits that were diverted from his through to the national Lib Dem website.

Councillor Bonner’s blog has recently passed the 500,000 hit mark, having only started 18 months ago.

He also has 62 Facebook friends from his ward.

And the duo believe it is the way forward in order for councillors to keep in touch with their residents.

Councillor Bonner said: “My blog is a useful way of communicating with people within the ward.

“I use it to comment on items local news and any interesting things that are going on in the ward and, sometimes, nationally.

“For instance, for things such as forthcoming road works in my ward, I can notify residents on the blog.

“I get quite a lot of comments from people – I am pleased how successful it has been.

“Many constituents contact me through it. I have also been contacted by researchers and academics, press reporters from Poland and Germany and by Government department.

“I recently attended a meeting on crime prevention which took place in Leeds, where I met a colleague from London who said that he recognised me from my blog photograph.

“I think councillors should be encouraged to do the same – it amazes me that, even now, some MPs refuse to e-mails.”

Councillor Beasant uses blog in much the same way and is rather more active on Twitter – a networking site that allows the user to constantly update what is they are doing, which can be used seen by anybody who signs up to follow them.

He said: “I have started to have a bit of fun with my updates lately.

“It is enjoyable way to keep people up to date with what is happening both within the ward and on the national political scene – naturally I will give my stories a Liberal Democrat spin because I am constantly campaigning for the party, day in and day out.

“I started in July last year and it’s gone from strength-to-strength.

“Me and Les talk about blog and it has now become a bit of blogging war between us – in a light hearted way.

“In all seriousness, however, it is something that I enjoy doing and it keeps residents of my ward aware what I am doing, hopefully for the good of the area.”

To visit Councillor Beasant’s blog, click here.

To visit Councillor Bonner’s, click here.