Regional publisher Newsquest has confirmed the loss of 16 sub-editors’ posts in the Midlands as part of a plan to create new production hub in South Wales.

As revealed on HTFP last month, the company is shifting subbing operations at its Worcester centre to Newport, 70 miles away.

A consultation on the plan, which will also see the creation of seven new copy-editing posts in Newport and a production editor role in Worcester, has now ended and the proposal is to go ahead.

But the company has agreed to create one extra role of content manager in Stourbridge following representations by staff.

The changes affect 16 titles currently subbed at Worcester were confirmed by Worcester News editor Peter John in an announcement to staff yesterday.

He said:  “As you know, a new editorial system has been installed in Newport for the Wales and Gloucestershire region, and is now planned to be rolled out to Midlands South.

“The consultation process over the proposal to transfer Worcester subbing operations to Newport has come to an end. I can confirm today that the proposal will go ahead, with the first title due to be transferred in the week beginning October 28.

“The proposal envisaged 7 new copy-editing roles being created in Newport and one Production Editor role being created at Worcester. In light of the consultations, a new role of Content Manager is being created  at Stourbridge.”

The additional role at Stourbridge has been created in order to ensure good copy flow and page flow at the centre, where seven of the papers are based.

The first papers to transfer as part of the move will be the Hereford Times, Ludlow Advertiser and Tenbury Wells Advertiser on October 30.

During November, the Stourbridge, Halesowen and Dudley News, Redditch, Bromsgrove and Droitwich Advertisers and Kidderminster Shuttle will all move.

Finally in December the Worcester News, Berrows Worcester Journal, Evesham and Cotswold Journals, Malvern Gazette and Ledbury Reporter will transfer.

Some of the new roles at Newport are being advertised on HTFP from today and can be viewed here.