I WOULD like to reassure Mr Rippon (“Connect us all”, Advertiser 5 June), that the county council’s ambition for Hampshire’s superfast broadband programme has always been to increase internet speeds for residents and businesses that are being missed out by the commercial roll out, which by their nature, are mainly out-of-town and remote areas.

I am very much aware of the personal, educational and economic benefits that faster internet speeds can bring, which is why we have embarked on this programme.

With a target of 95 per cent coverage by 2018, decisions need to be made, where reasonable, on the areas that offer the best value for money, as the most remote areas of Hampshire are the most expensive to reach. However, I am pleased to say that Barton Stacey will be included in the roll out during wave two of our programme, starting in 2016.

So far, a £28m investment in Hampshire will provide superfast broadband to 97,000 premises and the more people who sign up to a faster broadband service, the more money we will get back from BT to reinvest in the final 5 per cent.

We continue to take a proactive approach in providing superfast broadband to as many residents and businesses as possible, with a desire to reach 100 per cent, so that everyone can benefit, no matter how remote they are.

Since the programme began, we have been bidding for additional funding whenever it becomes available to try to achieve this.

An additional 3,300 premises in the New Forest and Test Valley will be upgraded to superfast broadband following a successful £1m bid to the government.

A further 1,500 premises in villages near Alresford will also benefit, thanks to our support for a £1.2m trial into new technologies and business models to help bring superfast broadband to the final 5 per cent of premises in the county.

Roy Perry Leader, Hampshire County Council via e-mail