The Edinburgh-based publisher has proposed closing the site’s pre-media department, which handles pre-press for dozens of titles published by Wilfred Edmunds and North Notts Newspapers, “following a review of the business”.

The regional newspaper publisher said: “Should the proposal proceed, up to 35 jobs will be at risk of redundancy. The company will seek to minimise the impact on staff through re-deployment to an enlarged pre-press department at Johnston’s Sheffield offices and through voluntary redundancy.”

Staff at Chesterfield have been told that 26 jobs will be available as part of a bigger pre-media operation at Sheffield.

Johnston Press is currently in consultation with the affected staff and their trade union representatives. The planned closure is expected to complete by 1 October, according to reports.

For more on this story, see this Thursday’s PrintWeek.