Funding for Bucks and Herts fibre broadband strategy

The rollout of fibre optic broadband in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire is set to be supported by £3 million of central government funding.

A joint application for super-fast broadband cash made by the two county councils was approved by the Conservative-led coalition on Thursday (February 16th 2012), meaning the project has now moved another step forward.

Some £1.11 million of the funding will go to Hertfordshire, while Buckinghamshire will be given £1.96 million. These amounts will be supplemented by contributions from the councils and the private sector.

The contract for the scheme will be put out to tender in the coming months and the local authorities are expecting groundwork to begin in 2013.

Martin Tett, leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, said: "This is fantastic news and essential for making Buckinghamshire a place to start and grow a business in the 21st century."

According to Ofcom, super-fast broadband access in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire currently stands at 67 per cent and 85 per cent respectively.