The removal of York's archives from the city centre has become a more realistic option, as Lottery chiefs have confirmed that support for a university library extension is being seriously considered.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has asked York University and City of York Council to consider including moving the archives from their current position next to the City Art Gallery into the proposed £7.3 million library extension.

Charlie Croft, head of the city's leisure office, said: "The fund has written saying that the university's bid is in and that they are looking at it seriously. We do not know whether it will be approved yet.

"The letter confirms that there are possibilities of looking at the city archives in relation to this scheme, and that there is the potential for the city to have a look at its own provision in relation to the university.

"I wouldn't say that the Heritage Lottery Fund favours including the archives with the library, but they are saying that, if we and the university want it to, the bid could include moving the archives."

Proposals to move the archives met with opposition when they were highlighted by the city's archivist Rita Freedman in July last year. A Friends of the City Archives group was set up, with the intention of keeping them in the city centre.

Charles Kightly, chairman of that group, said: "I am very pleased that the university and the council have got this far, and we wish them all the best, but we still maintain that the city archives should remain in the city centre and under the city's control and should not move out to the university.

"As long as the proposal doesn't include this, we wish them all the best."

Updated: 11:11 Monday, June 25, 2001