Fibre broadband coming to Oxfordshire enterprise zone?

Oxfordshire could get wider access to fibre optic broadband if a business leader's call for the county to be picked as one of the government's enterprise zones is heeded.

Chairman of Oxfordshire Business First Frank Nigriello is keen for firms in the area to get support from the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, reports the Oxford Mail.

He pointed out the county is home to a number of major companies, including BMW and Siemens Magnet Technology.

Mr Nigriello hit out at suggestions that places with high levels of unemployment should be the sole beneficiaries of the enterprise zone initiative.

"The government is focusing on areas of deprivation but it also has to consider how it can uphold high growth areas and allow them to flourish," he remarked.

Chancellor George Osborne unveiled the scheme in the most recent Budget and 11 locations have already been chosen as enterprise zones.

These include the Black Country, north-east England and Birmingham.

In total, 21 parts of the UK will be selected as enterprise zones.