Johnston lays off repro staff

Johnston Press has made 30 staff redundant at its Chesterfield offices as a result of its plan to close the sites pre-press department.

The Edinburgh-based publisher revealed last month that it intended to transfer pre-press work carried out by its 35-strong Chesterfield team to an enlarged pre-press division in Sheffield by 21 September.

Johnston said it hoped to minimise the impact on staff through redeployment to Sheffield, where 26 additional positions would be available, as well as through voluntary redundancy.

However, following consultation, only two staff decided to move to Sheffield. Three have remained in a studio in Chesterfield, while the remaining 30 have opted for redundancy.