A PLAN to connect 95% of Somerset to superfast broadband is in disarray after a “high risk” £35million deal with BT was rejected as “not up to scratch” and “not value for money”.

Following weeks of discussions, the Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) Programme have told BT it would not be awarded a £35m public-funded contract for the next phase of the planned superfast broadband roll-out.

Somerset County Council said that it emerged that BT could not meet the Government’s and CDS target of achieving 95% superfast broadband coverage by the end of 2017.

Adding that BT’s best offer does not meet the public value for money standards required under Section 151 of the Local Government Act. Finance officers who have a fiduciary duty to tax-payers said the offer was high risk.

The tender for this work will now be reissued as an open procurement exercise.

Burnham-On-Sea’s MP, James Heappey said that he supported the rejection of the deal, saying: “ensuring value for money for their taxpayers should always be their top priority”, however he added that the collapse of the negotiations was disappointing.

Mr Heappey said there was now a “very worrying uncertainty around the future of the project” and that any delay arising from the collapse of this deal will be kept “to an absolute minimum”.

Adding: “I will be joining other Somerset and Devon MPs in pushing Government for a speedy renegotiation of the State Aid permissions and will be wanting to work with the county councils as they seek new bidders for this vital contract.”

“Delivering superfast broadband remains my top priority as it will unlock the economic potential of our area. We must move forward at pace to find a solution that is better value for money and rolls out more quickly.”

BT said: “We are disappointed that we have not yet been able to reach agreement on the next phase of the Connecting Devon and Somerset programme.”

“We believe we have made the best possible offer to take superfast broadband coverage beyond the current target of around 90% by the end of next year, taking into account the challenging and remote nature of some locations in the two counties.”

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Devon County Council, said: “What they were offering did not represent good value for money and would not have addressed the issues of providing universal provision.

“I am only too well aware of how important good broadband connections are to our rural businesses and residents.

“But we’re committed to delivering value for money for our residents in everything we do. In all conscience we couldn’t sign up to this new deal because it just didn’t deliver.”