Announcements such as planning applications, road closures and meeting dates could be removed from local newspapers if plans by the Scottish Government go ahead.

The move, it is claimed, will allow councils to use a new public information notices portal, saving millions of pounds and enhancing local information services about the area.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said: “Public bodies must provide the best value for money. Councils have collectively identified a need to cut spending on public notices which they are legally required to advertise and pay for, costing around six million pounds a year.”

Jim Hume MSP, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, said that local newspapers could be denied a valuable chunk of income.

He said: “In the past the Scottish Government has pledged support to local newspapers. This announcement is a very worrying about turn by Ministers which will see a chunk of income withdrawn from local newspapers in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Local papers are at the heart of Dumfries and Galloway communities and are vital for communicating with the public, especially given the rural nature of the region.

“If a notice is published online it is unlikely that people will stumble upon it, therefore defeating the purpose of a ‘public notice’.

“The Scottish Government should be committed to our local newspapers to ensure they continue their important role.”

The portal will publish Public Information Notices across Scotland on a single website. Users will be able to click on a map of Scotland to see listings of public notices in any area, satellite imagery of the location and information on the issues involved.

To provide feedback on the proposal, contact the region’s MSPs and MPs by February 12.