Cogges Museum has been given another boost just weeks before the next steps start in securing its future.

On the back of improved visitor figures this year, the farm museum in Witney has been shortlisted for a tourism award.

It is among a handful of Oxfordshire attractions in the running for ExSEllence awards for Tourism South East in 2008, to be presented on October 28 at the Wentworth Club in Surrey.

Martyn Brown, Oxfordshire County Council’s heritage and arts officer, said: "This is wonderful news and a great opportunity for our staff to celebrate all the hard work and dedication they have put in this season, despite all the problems we have encountered."

The council, which owns and runs the farm museum, says it will not be releasing details about three firm proposals for the attraction’s continuing future until a public meeting in Cogges Church on Monday, October 6.

One of the schemes involves a Witney-based community enterprise group, but the names of the other two are still being treated as confidential for business reasons.

The public meeting, which starts at 7.30pm, follows one earlier this year when more than 170 people put forward their views about how to keep the museum going.

Last autumn the council raised doubts about the future of Cogges but after a protest campaign, earlier this year agreed to meet the estimated £250,000 annual running losses for this year. Its subsidy will reduce to nil in two years' time.

It also set up a project board to bring in outside help and finance for the future.

Jim Couchman, county cabinet member for social and community services, said: "A terrific amount of hard work has been going on behind the scenes, and a formal report will be presented to the cabinet in October.

"The meeting will be a chance for people to hear the details about the proposals that have emerged for consideration."

He added that there had been "numerous" suggestions but three firm proposals had emerged, two from commercial operators and one from the community enterprise group.

The meeting will hear of plans for 2009 as well as the longer-term vision.

Only a month ago the museum reported a 50 per cent increase in visitors this year.

 Others in line for Tourism ExSEllence awards are: Blenheim Palace's The Untold Story, Oxford Castle Unlocked, Banbury Tourist Information Centre, Abbey Guest House in Abingdon, Fallowfields Country House at Kingston Bagpuize and Caswell House at Brize Norton.