Regional publisher Local World is to close two newspaper offices in Suffolk and Hertfordshire and replace them with what it is calling ‘drop in zones.’

The Haverhill Weekly News and Royston Weekly News were part of the former Iliffe News and Media stable which became part of the new Local World consortium earlier this year.

Now journalists on the two titles are to be moved to neighbouring offices pending the introduction of what the company is calling “modern, technology driven commercial ‘drop-in zones’ located in high traffic parts of the town centre.”

It said the drop-in zones would act “as a meeting place for staff to greet advertising clients and discuss campaigns, as well as being a place where readers can book advertisements using our ‘self- serve’ technology.”

The two offices are due to close at the end of June.   Until the new drop-ins are set up, staff from Haverhill will be based at Newmarket while Royston staff will move to Saffron Walden.

The company said in a statement:  “Once the drop-in zones are established, sales people and journalists will become ‘remote’ workers using up to date tablet computers and smart phones that will enable them to spend more time servicing local businesses and will use the facilities of the drop-in zones as and when needed.”

“As a result of these changes, certain non-editorial roles will be at risk and consultation with affected staff will commence in the next week.”