NEWSPAPER group Newsquest North-East has announced a restructure which will result in some job losses and the creation of new roles.

The parent company of The Northern Echo, Darlington & Stockton Times, and their sister titles is consolidating production management of its newspapers in one regional centre.

Under the proposals, nine Darlington and York-based production jobs will transfer to Newsquest’s offices in Bradford under a TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment) arrangement. In addition, the role of editorial graphic artist will transfer from Darlington to a new centralised studio.

A new position of group weeklies content editor will be created in Darlington as well as three new roles at Bradford.

The company is proposing these changes come into effect from June 1.

A period of consultation has started which involves management, union and staff representatives. Newsquest said it will explore ways of avoiding compulsory redundancies and minimising the number of employees affected. This includes restrictions of recruitment, offering staff alternative employment elsewhere in the group, re-training and voluntary redundancy.