Four journalists working at Archant London titles have been told their jobs are at risk under plans to move subbing to a centralised production unit.

The company is proposing to centralise sub-editing roles which are currently based in Hampstead – at theHampstead and Highgate Express, Islington Gazette, Journal series and Times series – to its production unit in Ilford.

It means four journalists have now been told their positions are at risk of redundancy, including Keith Archer, deputy editor of the Islington Gazette for the past 28 years.

Also affected are a sub-editor, a chief sub, and a production editor.

Editorial director Bob Crawley said there were four alternative jobs available in Ilford and a consultation had started with the affected staff.

He said the move was being made so the group was more efficient but also because of the new content management system which Archant has introduced.

Mr Crawley said: “The reasons for doing it are one, we have to look at ways of being efficient, but more importantly, it is about bringing best practice into the system.

“We have held the first consultation meeting and the second is planned for next week.”

The move comes after Archant London announced plans in January to merge the Gravesend Reporter and the Dartford and Swanley Times as part of a restructure of its Kent operation, which included centralising its sub-editors in Ilford.

It is understood two people took voluntary redundancy as a result of this, while the move to the production unit has not yet taken place.

Long-standing group editor Tony Allcock, who has led the Islington Gazette for 36 years, is due to retire at the end of this month but his position has not yet been filled.