Local councillors are to hold a full debate over a decision to shift a weekly editorial team to a sister centre around seven miles away.

As reported on HoldtheFrontPage earlier this month, journalists at the Bury Times will be working in Newsquest’s Bolton office from January where they will contribute copy to The Bolton News, Bury Times and Prestwich and Whitefield Guide.

It is also understood that Bury Times editor Carla Flynn is being made redundant along with one other reporter.

The move was part of a series of wider changes within Newsquest North West along with proposals to close 11 newspapers and its printing plant in Bolton.

Bury councillors have protested about the move and tried to have it discussed at a full council meeting on Wednesday night but a motion condemning the plan was too late to be included on the agenda.

It will however be debated at a future council meeting along with local organisations who work in partnership with the authority such as the emergency services and local colleges.

A council spokesman said: “The motion which was to be put forward was not submitted in time and therefore deemed unconstitutional.

“However, there are plans to have a full debate with the council’s partners at a future council meeting.”

Newsquest North West regional managing director Chris Hughes has so far declined to comment.

Comments

Dan Depan (02/01/2009 12:52:58)
Surrpised that local councils are bothered – after all it leaves the way clear for their own Pravda style offerings to reassyre locals that everything is fine. Shame they started the decline by pulling out local authority advertising from any local paper which suggested otherwise. Still I’m sure the Yanks running Newsquest will be quaking in their boots as the full might of the Bury Council debating chamber is unleashed upon them