A MAJOR funding boost into infrastructure and innovation has been welcomed by Essex County Council as great news for the county.

The Chancellor in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday (November 23), announced government plans to set aside £1.3bn of funding to tackle congestion on the UK’s roads and a commitment to boost growth and raise living standards by spending more on targeted infrastructure projects.


Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council's deputy leader, said: “While of course we await the detail that comes over the next few weeks, this will likely be a fantastic boost for the county.


“We have been lobbying along with partners for funding to create a new Junction 7a on the M11 and, if this gets the go ahead, this will really boost our ambitious plans for the Enterprise Zone and major housing and employment in the area.


“And of course the proposal for an Oxford to Cambridge Expressway also has real benefits for Essex business, by improving links to Milton Keynes and the west of the UK.”


The Statement also saw the announcement of more than £1bn to unlock a "gold standard" of superfast broadband.


Cllr Bentley added: “We have recently announced our plan to rollout a third phase of our Superfast Essex programme which will see up to £10 million invested into providing broadband into our most rural areas.


“We are currently on track to provide 95 per cent superfast coverage in the county by 2019, but further investment by the Government would enable us to go beyond increasing overall superfast coverage, and to consider targeted initiatives to better meet the needs of Essex businesses.”