The ambitious new plans for a City Library in Bradford have been welcomed by a pressure group created after Central Library closed its doors.

The Friends of Bradford Archives and Local Studies Group (FOBALS) was formed after concerns were raised about how difficult it was to access the archives because most of Central Library was closed in 2011.

The group, which represents all the major local history societies, could not access many archives for its members’ research, but are now relieved a decision on the archives has been made.

City Library will be at City Park, in the space occupied by BD1 Gallery and an empty retail unit. But West Yorkshire Archive Service and Bradford Libraries Local Studies Library will stay at Central Library on the ground floor where users, using a dedicated entrance, can access archives from December this year.

That was welcomed by Dr Christine Alvin, chairman of FOBALs, who has said that the library delays were unfortunate but unavoidable.

Speaking after the Telegraph & Argus exclusively revealed the library plans this week, Dr Alvin said: “I think it will be very interesting having the whole service in one building. It is a very good thing. It will be quite a different environment to work in and quite a different work space. There should be plenty of space and we are quite happy about it.

“We have been involved all along. Obviously we would love to think the library would be open for summer and back to normal, but these things take time and they have to be planned carefully. We will be involved until the library re-opens.”

Bradford Council’s decision for City Library brings to an end two years of uncertainty after the Central Library was deemed a fire risk by health and safety experts in October, 2011.

To be known as City Library, the facility will open in December, complete with 60,000 books, 40 computers for public use, study space and Wi-Fi.

The project will cost £9 million in total, of which £8 million will be spent on the Central Library building to make it safe and convert it to offices and conference space for Council staff.

A temporary children’s library called Park and Read will open in the City Park pavilion from next month until December. Once the City Library opens in December, Park and Read will relocate to there.