LORD Bathurst of Cirencester has announced plans for a fund to be set up to sponsor a young person to visit the city of Bathurst in Australia every year.

The idea was put forward to the town’s business community at a special gathering in Cirencester Park on June 22.

The event was to give the town’s businesspeople the chance to hear about a new friendship between the Cotswold town and Australian city, which came about thanks to Lord Bathurst himself.

The Earl visited his namesake city in 2015, which was named after his ancestor, the third Earl of Bathurst.

Cirencester town councillor Mark Harris became interested in the project and put it to current Mayor Nigel Robbins.

The pair, alongside the Earl and Cirencester Community Development Trust, who are facilitating the scheme, then briefed guests at the gathering last month.

The partnership are planning a series of activities and events, culminating in the official launch of the friendship arrangement between the two regional capitals in the Parish Church in October.

“It was a great evening and it was great to gauge opinion and gain support for this idea,” said Cllr Harris.

Cirencester Town Council was approached by the Mayor of Bathurst, New South Wales, last year, with a view to forming a friendship and I am delighted that it is now coming to fruition thanks to the Earl and the Community Development Trust.

“I am looking forward to helping with the plans, especially the idea of forming a trust to send someone to Australia every year,” he added.

The proposed fund will pay for a young person from the area, who would not usually have the opportunity, to travel to Bathurst and experience a life changing opportunity – be it through work, study, sports or in the voluntary sector.