Rock star warned gift could be costly

WORLD famous music producer Brian Eno will be told that his offer to gift his secret garden to the town of Woodbridge to stop it being turned into houses could become a financial burden for residents.

Woodbridge town council has agreed to visit his hidden oasis, off Castle Street, for the second time and to write to Mr Eno to warn him of the pitfalls in taking over his land.

Chris Walker, council clerk, said railway sleepers, steps and handrails needed to be replaced. She added there was a dispute over motorists parking by the entrance, and there were neighbourhood disputes with residents in Victoria Road.

Mrs Walker said: "There are health and safety implications. It is a difficult place on a number of levels and is very steep. There is a rope swing and youngsters scramble on the bank and use this for an aerial runway.

"He did that in his youth and he would like the youngsters to do that, but if the council take it on it would be a big insurance thing."

Russell Geen, deputy mayor, said: "It is not a simple place. It is very untidy. It will take 18 months to put right and the mess is increasing more and more. It will be a burden on our budget and council tax."

The musician who was member of Roxy Music and has produced records for U2, wrote to the council saying he wanted to gift the land to the town on the condition it remained an open space for use by the public.

"Despite my affection for this little place, I am no longer in a position to use it or to look after it. I am, therefore, faced with the following choices; to fence it in and prohibit entry to it, to sell it on to somebody else, or to give it to the town.

"I would much prefer to do the latter, since this harmonises best with my original intention – which was to try to retain a little bit of the Woodbridge that I enjoyed as a child in the hope that future generations might have the same pleasure," said Mr Eno.