LibDem MP Jo Swinson warned that it could lead to the public having to ferret around for important planning and licensing notices — like the controversial CALA/Kilmarndinny plan.

She was backed by Labour MSPs Des McNulty and David Whitton who also warned of the impact any switch to online advertising would have on local newspapers.

And the SNP's Gil Paterson broke ranks with the Nationalist-led Scottish Government to condemn the plans.

The Holyrood administration is consulting on a scheme to allow local authorities to advertise public notices online in a money-saving exercise.

Ms Swinson said: "At a time when local papers are suffering from the effects of the recession and declining advertising revenue, it is a terrible idea for the Scottish Government to withdraw its support for them in this way. I would encourage anyone who wants to support our much-loved local papers to submit their views as part of the consultation.

"The public should not be expected to have to ferret around for important planning and licensing notices. Just imagine if instead of reading a notice in the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald, notification of the Kilmardinny/Westpark development plans had been buried on some obscure page of the council website.

"If the Scottish Government's scheme goes ahead, I strongly urge East Dunbartonshire Council to continue publishing public notices in the local papers."

Labour MSP Des McNulty said that the plans made no sense, adding: "Favouring online advertising over notices in local newspapers will take vital revenue away from an industry which is already facing significant challenges.

"The Scottish Government must rethink these proposals to avoid irreversibly damaging local papers, which are important sources of information for communities across Scotland and a vital part of the media spectrum.
"The Milngavie and Bearsden Herald plays a vital role in this area and it would not be in anyone's interest that revenue should allocated instead to outlets which have no link to the local area. Our local paper has a sizeable circulation and people turn to it to get the information they need.

"The withdrawal of council advertising would restrict the numbers of people being given vital information while striking a blow against a vital local service.

"I hope the SNP Government will not go through with these damaging plans."

Labour MSP David Whitton pointed out that the internet is not available to everyone and said he would be keeping a close eye on the outcome of the pilot studies and any legislation that the SNP bring forward.

He added: "I share the concerns about the impact such a proposal could have, particularly on Scotland's many weekly titles that are the main information source for their communities.

"The SNP Government is currently conducting pilot testing of putting public notices on the internet through the public information notices portal and they have said they will consult shortly on any changes to legislation needed to support the introduction of this method for local authorities.

"However, the UK Government has already made its view known by stating 'there should not be a policy of publishing public notices only online.' That is a view I share as local authorities have a duty to ensure the public are kept informed of major issues such as planning applications in their locality and not everyone has access to the internet.

"I agree local authorities have to find ways to save money where appropriate but I do not believe ending the publication of public notices in local newspapers will prove to be cost effective."

SNP MSP Gil Paterson is also against the proposals and said : "I would be reluctanct to make changes to how we deal with public notices.

"If I wasn't an MSP I wouldn't use the web so much and I think the vast majority of the people cannot connect to it. This means they wouldn't be informed of notices that would be important to them.

"The amount of money we spend on advertising is a small sum for the benefit we get and local papers reach right across society. There is an age gap where the older generation and many others are not familiar with the internet or don't have a computer in the home and don't connect to the web so they would have no notion that a notice would have been served.

"Local papers have many components and taking away these could jeoperdize them. The CALA development is a typical example of informing the public and it is important that we have the Herald to report on these issues."Richard Bell, managing director of the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald, said: ''We strongly believe people must be given the information on issues affecting their towns and communities. That means continuing the long-established practice of placing public notices in local newspapers.

"We fully accept the ways in which people communicate and get information are changing thanks to the internet, but councils still have a duty to be open and accountable — particularly when it comes to grassroots issues such as planning notices and licensing board matters.

"Removing public notices and placing them on an website they have no connection with could lead to major local issues being decided and implemented with little or no public knowledge and debate.''