News: Yorkshire Post set to be printed in Rotherham

Johnston Press, one of the largest local newspaper publishers in the UK, is planning to move production of the Yorkshire Post out of Leeds where it has been printed for 250 years.

Under proposals, the prestigious paper would be printed at Johnston Press centres at Dinnington in Rotherham, and Sunderland.

The £60m facility on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery was opened in 2007. It includes state-of-the-art facilities including one of the most modern and fastest presses in the world. It has the capacity to print 192 pages in full colour, 120,000 newspapers an hour in full colour and 75 titles per week.

Johnston Press said in a statement: "Consultation has begun on a proposal to close the press plant at Yorkshire Post Newspapers in Leeds. If the proposal goes ahead it could affect up to 25 jobs.

"Printing of the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post would move to other Johnston Press plants at Dinnington, near Sheffield, and Sunderland.

"New printing arrangements would allow additional colour in the two newspapers and follow the pattern across the newspaper industry of printing being centralised into fewer but bigger and more modern plants.

"The Wellington Street building [in Leeds] would remain a base for nearly 500 editorial, commercial and support staff. Any changes to printing would take effect in March following a full and proper consultation process."

Isle of Man Newspapers also announced plans to move production to Rotherham last year.

Industry experts expect that the Dinnington facility will also print The Sun on Sunday, which launches this weekend.

Johnston Press website

Images: Johnston Press