A BID to turn an art gallery into a café has caused dismay in the community.

Plans have been submitted to turn the Red Roof Gallery, in Maldon’s Promenade Park, into a café.

The gallery, which hosts workshops for residents to learn to create art is now under threat of closing.

Gallery boss Tony Wilkerson, 55, has worked as an artist and graphic designer for the past 35 years.

Five years ago, he took up residence in the park running a small gallery before moving to the disused kiosk last year.

After clearing the place up and giving the hut a paint job, the Red Roof Gallery was opened to host workshops for the public.

Mr Wilkerson said: “The idea was to provide a different service for the community and give something back.

“Retail-wise, it is as dead as a dodo here.

“But a gallery is a necessary change. I found out that the only successful gallery in a park setting in this country is in Manchester.

“However in Australia, you have loads of galleries in their parks.

"They have a real thing with art, nature and people coming together.

“This is the kind of thing I’m going for because it is a nice change of pace to teach people to really express themselves.

“It is also a nice release for people – you see them coming to the class and they just relax.”

Just after Christmas, Mr Wilkerson hoped to discuss his future plans with Maldon District Council, which owns the kiosk, including staging an exhibition at the park and increasing the number of workshops.

He was stunned when the council said the building was being put out to tender.

Mr Wilkerson said: “When I first heard about it, I was shocked.

“If I lost this place, I was probably going to give up completely.

“They are hell-bent on putting a café there.

“It felt like they had a bigger picture in mind and I’m not even in it.

“But I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received.”

Since spreading the news, he has received offers from Harlow, Brentwood and Basildon to run his workshops to support people with mental or physical health issues.

Mr Wilkerson added: “I just think it’s so short-sighted for Maldon to not be thinking in this way.

“The council should be looking after the people, not the businesses. Everyone enjoys a coffee or an ice-cream, but you don’t come to Prom Park to do just that.

“I’m very passionate and I see what they are doing is misguided but not malicious. But it isn’t over yet and I’ll do what I can.”

A town council spokesman said: “Maldon Town Council recommended approval of the application for change of use from a first aid hut to a café, at the planning committee meeting on January 7, as it is aware this hut has had various uses in the past and felt that this would be economically positive for Maldon and would provide additional employment.”

The deadline for commenting on the application is February 2.