Letter to Editor: Plan for new home for gallery

Artist Ted Coney writes on the closure of ely’s Babylon Gallery.

I am sure that many people were sadenned to hear about the permanent closure of the Babylon Gallery from earlyt September.

However, I have written to the mayor-elect of Ely City Council and the leader or East Cambridgeshire Disctrict Council to ask them to begin planning for a new permanent home for the visual arts in Ely, as it is such an important part of the city just to allow it to dissapear!

One of the problems of the beautiful and historical building at Babylon Bridge was that it was rented and costs became too high.

If only both council got together and started renovating The Maltings Cottages (building beside the Maltings) which they own, then this would become an art hub both for a gallery and workshops, while still remaining at Riverside.

This building was gtiven to the people of Ely to enjoy, yet it has lain waste for as long as I can remember and we’ve been here 18 years!