With many households and businesses in Conwy and Denbighshire still struggling to gain access to decent broadband, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to reactivate a broadband scheme which was helping people get online before its suspension in August. 

The Access Broadband Cymru grant scheme, which provides grant support to install alternative broadband solutions capable of delivering stable superfast download speeds, was paused from August 7 for a period of six months. 

But in this week’s Business Statement in the Senedd, Darren questioned why it was paused when it was and urged the Welsh Government to look at reinstating it as soon as possible. 

He said:    

“Over the summer, Access Broadband Cymru, the grant scheme to help people get online and get decent broadband speeds, was suspended. 

“Now, clearly that was an important grant funding stream that was helping many people, including in my own constituency, get access to decent broadband, which is something that is essential in this day and age -  not a luxury.

“Quite why the scheme was withdrawn at a time when a future scheme hadn't been developed is beyond me, and I do think that there should be an opportunity for Members of this Senedd to be able to ask the relevant Minister questions as to when we can expect something to be back up and running to help our constituents that are finding it difficult to access proper broadband speeds to get online.” 

Watch Darren’s contribution in the Welsh Parliament below: