Holyrood politicians from across the party divide are backing a motion asking the BBC to scrap plans for local video news websites which, it is feared, could damage local newspapers.

Holyrood politicians from across the party divide are backing a motion asking the BBC to scrap plans for local video news websites which, it is feared, could damage local newspapers.

John Scott, the Conservative MSP for Ayr, has tabled a motion expressing concern about BBC proposals to spend £68m on expanding the local news element of its website, duplicating the work done by newspapers.

The Tory motion which has attracted Labour, SNP and Green support, states: "The proposal will stifle competition and damage the commercial viability of local newspapers, and calls on the BBC Trust to abandon these proposals."

It comes as the BBC Trust's provisional conclusions on the local video service plans are due to be unveiled today. Last night, one unconfirmed report suggested that the plans may be rejected in their current form by the trust.

Mr Scott told The Herald: "This is a very unwelcome proposal that risks inflicting serious damage on the commercial viability of regional and local newspapers, and it is fundamentally wrong that what amounts to a commercial challenge should be mounted by the BBC at the licence payers' expense."

Scottish Labour's culture spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said: "The digital age is transforming the landscape of media and communications and the print media in particular is feeling the change that new technology brings.

"Because of its public funding, the BBC is obviously in a unique position and the decision to invest £68m in online local news services is likely to impact on local newspapers.

"Local newspapers are at the heart of local community life. They are important local employers and have long been a critical part of the media spectrum, providing relevant and trusted news to local people. The BBC needs to demonstrate that their plans will provide public benefit and we will continue to work with newspapers to ensure their concerns are heard."

The SNP has already taken the issue up at Westminster, where culture spokesman Pete Wishart said: "Local news plays a valuable part in any community and while the BBC news website is providing a service for licence payers across the country, we must maintain the plurality of the press.

"The public will choose which service meets their needs, but it would be wrong to see licence payers funding a BBC monopoly over local news. Of more immediate concern to the media industry must be tackling the concentration of ownership alongside cutbacks and falling circulation among national newspapers."

The Liberal Democrats said their position was that they were awaiting the BBC Trust's response to questions about the controversy and would then respond more fully.

A BBC spokesman said plans were under consideration by the BBC Trust and conclusions were expected to be published today.