A community gallery has been forced to close temporarily despite assurances it could remain open during refurbishment work.

The Stone Space, in Church Lane, Leytonstone, will not operate until the end of November while asbestos is removed from Leytonstone library in the same building.

One of the gallery’s founders, Elizabeth Davies, said council officers had told her throughout the planning stage it would be safe to remain open throughout the ten-month refurbishment of the library.

However, only two weeks ago, the council informed volunteers that the gallery would close for a month for health and safety reasons. 

Ms Davies said: “I was told the gallery would be able to stay open, but this has been sprung on us unexpectedly, it is a big blow.

“There was no consultation or communication from the council about this and it has meant we have had to cancel two local artists who were due to have their work shown this month.

“This has really affected us because we have had to rearrange the programme for the year and everything is up in the air at the moment.

“Of course we appreciate that we can’t be in the gallery during asbestos removal, we are just questioning the efficiency of the process.

“I must give my thanks to the ward councillors who have given us tremendous support and tried their upmost to make sure we were not affected.”

The gallery was opened in 2011 after residents from the Leytonstone Arts Trail group secured use of the site from Waltham Forest council.

A team of volunteers runs the gallery four days a week, with a regular rotation of exhibitions from both local and national artists.

Waltham Forest council has been contacted for a response.