Local World takes on Johnston Press in Grantham with launch of new weekly title

Local World has announced plans to launch a new weekly newspaper to rival Johnston Press in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

The Grantham Target will be an extension of Lincolnshire Media's Target Series, which currently operates in Boston, Sleaford and East Lindsey.

According to a post of the Boston Target website, the new paper will cost 50p a week and be published on Wednesday mornings.

It said that a website to go alongside the newspaper will be launched in December and writers will be recruited in the next few months.

Already operating in the area is the Grantham Journal, which costs 95p according to Holdthefrontpage. It is no longer audited by ABC, but recorded a circulation of 14,072 in the second half of 2012.

Boston Target and Sleaford Target editor Adam Moss will take charge of the new title. He is quoted in the Boston edition as saying: “The Targets are a well-known brand in this part of Lincolnshire and we feel Grantham is the ideal place to go into next.

“It’s a very newsy area, with a real mix of residents. You have people who have lived in the town all their lives as well as a huge influx of others who are attracted to Grantham by the road links and the fact it’s just over an hour to London on the East Coast mainline.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and making sure we give a voice to communities, individuals, and special interest groups across Grantham.”

Lincolnshire Media publisher Steven Fletcher is quoted as saying: “We know readers value the content and range of advertising in the Targets, and at 50p a week it’s fantastic value for money.

“Some people will say it’s unusual to be opening a newspaper when many are being closed down, but that shows how determined we are to succeed in Grantham.”