A NEW platform has been installed at Castle Green, Taunton – and now it’s up to the community to come up with great ways to make best use of it.

Taunton Deane Council wants people to take ownership of the open space and the platform, a compact section of low staging, is seen as a way of stimulating ideas.

The council is working closely with ArtsTaunton, the umbrella organisation for arts and culture locally, and the platform was among suggestions put forward by the group.

The installation is temporary and designed as a way of prompting ideas for how the space, close to the Museum of Somerset, can be used more imaginatively.

Although compact, it could be used for a huge range of activities.

The initial idea was based on the vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square and is there for people to use.

Just like the London landmark the space could be used for sculpture, music or public debate.

It can be booked for specific displays or could be used informally as a Taunton’s own Poet’s Corner.

“Working with ArtsTaunton, we hope people will fire up their imagination and come up with great ideas on how we can use the great space that is Castle Green," said Ian Timms, the council’s assistant director for business development.

“This platform provides an added dimension to the space and is there for a trial period of six months.

"We have the spring and summer ahead so I am appealing for people to be creative now.”

Kit Chapman, chairman of ArtsTaunton, said: “We want Taunton to become a destination for arts and culture.

"By nurturing creative ideas and working together we can achieve great things.

"This is just the start of what I hope will be a new era in Taunton’s cultural and economic prosperity.”

The initiative complements the bookings for Castle Green which have been steadily increasing.

Over the next six months the Green will play host to range of events - check out the link on this story.