ITV has unveiled drastic cost-cutting plans that threaten jobs and the future of its news operation in Maidstone.

In a move that will be widely seen as another attack on local news broadcasting, ITV wants to close nine of its 17 centres across the country.

One of these could be the ITV Meridian newsroom in Maidstone Studios.

Meridian Tonight, the network’s flagship evening news programme, currently serving three sub-regions, one of which is Kent, would become a show covering the entire region.

Kent would be granted a so-called opt-out, focusing on local news. But no one at Meridian was able to spell out how long each opt-out would last.

This is the second period of uncertainty for Meridian and its viewers. A few years ago, a reduction in news output, closure of studios in New Hythe, and a switch of presenters to Hampshire provoked an outcry in Kent.

The latest plan, announced by ITV chairman Michael Grade, aims to slash a third - £40 million - from the existing £120m regional news budget. It is part of the company’s preparation for digital switchover in 2012 when there will no longer be any public service obligation on ITV.

Maidstone-based staff were shocked by the announcement and are preparing to fight the proposals which require the approval of Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog.

The National Union of Journalists immediately launched a campaign to "save ITV regional news".

Paul McLaughlin, national broadcasting organiser, denounced the plan. "ITV has a strong history of public service broadcasting in the UK," he said. "Plans announced to day would drastically reduce local news in the UK.

"This is a vital service for viewers and ensures that politicians and local organisations are held to account. Ofcom and the Government had a duty to maintain qaulity broadcasting in the UK. The NUJ will do everything necessary to safeguard this valuable resource."

A Maidstone newsroom source said: "Meridian staff are assessing the impact of this proposal which has clearly shocked staff."

Mark Southgate, managing director at ITV Meridian, confirmed that the proposals would lead to job losses but it was too early to say how many.

He claimed the proposals would put ITV regional news on a more sustainable footing and news-gathering teams would still be based around the region.

He said: "The plan for ITV Meridian is that there will be one well-resourced edition of Meridian Tonight serving the South and South-East, which will carry the most important stories and reflect the life of the entire region.

"It won’t be dominated by one area, and there will be times within the programme when our service will split to enable us to offer news that is more specific to either the South or South-East. News gathering teams will still be based around the region."