Relaunches as supplement of Ealing newspaper
Over a century of history in the borough ended today (April 25th) with the publication of the last ever edition of the Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle.
A farewell editorial from publishers Trinity Mirror inside today's last paper says: " Following a business review of the Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle series, with its three editions, it is with regret that we can no longer sustain this title.
"After 126 years, it is with great sadness that our final edition will roll off the presses for the last time today (Friday).
" We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers, advertisers and contributors who have supported the Chronicle over the years that is has reported events in and around the borough."
In its place, Trinity Mirror says it will be re-launching the Fulham, Hammersmith, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Gazette to cover the three London borough left without a printed newspaper and adds: "We hope you will enjoy reading the re-launched Gazette which will be available from May 2 at newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets, and in total more than 400 outlets, priced 90p."
According to the Press Gazette the new paper will be a supplementary edition of the Ealing Gazette, another Trinity Mirror title. At the same time as announcing the closure of the Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle, Trinity also disclosed that they are making cuts at other titles in West London including the Ealing Gazette and the Hounslow Chronicle. Staff cuts of up to 15 are possible and the group is to close its offices in Uxbridge and Hammersmith and switch production to Watford.
The unexpected closure of the borough's paper initially led to fears that the Council would need to run their public notices in the Evening Standard which they estimated would have cost £3 million per annum. The Council have a legal obligation to publish these notices in a local newspaper. They refused to consider publishing notices online on sites like FulhamSW6.com, HammersmithToday.co.uk and ShepherdsbushW12.com. The relevant legislation does not mention that the notices have to be printed and more recently legislation makes clear that digital publishers of local news are regarded as newspapers. London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham contend that the use of the word 'document' in the laws regarding publication of notices implies that they have to be printed.
April 25, 2014
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