So Somerset

In a twin-pronged approach, a new cultural quarter will be completed linking up the County Ground, Brewhouse Threatre and County Museum.

The bulk of the investment will come at the cricket ground.

A £60m scheme has been put forward that will see Somerset become the new home of the England women's cricket team.

The pitch itself will be expanded to become an international venue standard. And off the pitch, the big ideas keep on coming.

A new block of flats will be created; a multi-storey car park, and a series of boutique shops, cafés and offices will also be built.

The work will be carried out in three phases, but so far funding has only been found for the first one.

"Both public and private money will be made available to bring this to fruition," Mr Gould says.

"It's not going to be easy, and if people want to see one little tin-hut stand go up, fine. But that's not how great towns are made.

"Great towns are made by organisations and councils who dare to think big, and then have the courage, time and dedication to force it through; and that's what we'll be aiming to do."

And the BBC can also exclusively reveal a second major development in the county town.

The County Museum is also planning for a revamp that will see the public involved in choosing their preferred options.

Tentative plans released on Thursday 20 April, 2006, include a café, new displays, improvements to the building and potentially new interactive displays.

Much of the anticipated £6m cost will come from a lottery grant; the project is being led by Somerset County Council.

Tom Mayberry

Tom Mayberry, the County Heritage Officer, is in charge of the bid: "The museum as it exists at present is a creation of the 1970s - and it looks like it.

"It does its job - just about - but we clearly do want to create something entirely new.

"We want it to be graphical and interactive, and to use the latest display techniques. We want it to be digital and hands-on.

"We want it to do all the things which the best museums are doing now, and we want it most of all to tell the story of Somerset - that exciting, fascinating, engrossing story which is only partly in the collections as they're displayed and interpreted at present."

The improvements have excited staff at the museum with the aim of attracting a new younger audience to the building.

Hilary Binding is the Vice Chair of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, which runs the exhibition.

"The Museum of Somerset project is designed specifically to turn this museum - which is worthy and good and interesting - into a 21st century museum, within this historic building.

"There are all these wonderful collections, and it is as it is at the moment.

"But we want to improve it so much, and we're really working very, very hard to make sure the bid does succeed."

A short survey form is available to complete via the council's website until 31 May, 2006.