Plans to move newspaper offices out of two towns in Oxfordshire have been met with protests from the local authorities.

Newsquest is considering closing its district offices in Wallingford and Abingdon, and moving its reporters to the group’s Didcot office.

But both Wallingford town council and Abingdon town council have condemned the proposals.

They have sent protest letters to Derek Holmes, editor of weekly paid-fors the Oxford Times and the Herald series, and say they oppose “centralisation” of staff.

One reporter is currently based at Wallingford and two work from Abingdon, providing copy for all the group’s Oxfordshire titles.

Under the proposals they would all move to Didcot, joining one reporter who is already based there.

The aim is to improve working conditions and recruitment and retention of staff. The group says few people now wish to work isolated in one-person offices.

David Duffy, deputy editor of Newsquest Oxfordshire’s weekly titles, said the move would help provide better coverage of south Oxfordshire as there was currently no cover for the district offices, often leaving them unmanned.

He told HoldtheFrontPage: “There is no suggestion that the reporters would stay in Didcot – they would be out and about, but that is where they would be based.

“We are convinced this would provide a better service for readers.”

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