A local councillor has hit back at the solution to solve the troubled floating bridge’s problems stating ‘it’s not a sticky plaster you can put on’.
As the Isle of Wight Council continues to consider the only ‘viable’ option to resolving Floating Bridge 6’s issues — side thrusters— local town councillors have become even more sceptical of the idea.
At a meeting of East Cowes Town Council last week, Alex Minns, the Isle of Wight Council’s Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods, said once legal mediation had been addressed, the administration would be in a position to announce the proposed next steps.
Councillor Cameron Palin, however, said ‘numerous’ local engineers had pointed out side thrusters would not work and now 4 years down the line, the Isle of Wight Council is no closer to sorting out the issues.
The most significant issue with the vessel, according to Mr Minns, is that it is unable to achieve the desired clearance over the chains at certain tides and after exploring several options, independent marine engineers have evaluated the options and recommended a preferred option to the council.
Cllr Palin went on to say he had heard if the side thrusters were to be installed the vessel would need to be out of the water for 6 months. He said:
“It is not like a sticky plaster you can put on, this is major engineering work that needs to happen and it is quite frankly not good enough that we have had little information.”
The town council resolved to write to the cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, Cllr Ian Ward, requesting up-to-date costings, including the overall deficit, since May 2017, as the town’s economy ‘has been ruined by the bridge’ along with the recent Covid pandemic.
Floating Bridge 6 has been out of action 5 times in a month, both for planned maintenance to the vessel’s hydraulic pipes and when unexpected issues occurred.
Cllr Dave Stewart, leader of the Isle of Wight Council, has said a ‘substantial claim’ had been submitted as part of the legal mediation as talks continue.
Outrageous
How can this bunch of inept councillors look people in the eye out on the street and in public. Whoever signed off this not fit for purpose pile of junk should have been sacked. Right from the start it was obvious that the two ends weren’t designed for high and low tides. This has been an embarrassment for far too long. Build a fixed link from east to west that was suggested years ago for Christ’s sake and admit you were wrong .
Quite right, YIGAF how much more of our money are they going to throw at it. Its too big and heavy for a shallow river i dont know what it would take for this bunch of bone headed jobsworths to admit that they have messed up big time and come up with another option ie fixed link.
If it cannot clear the chains at certain tides, then this is blatant incompetence in the design and planning stages.
it is therefore obvious that the individual concerned who signed off on the plans, should be the one to take the fall for this level of amateur planning.
Those in the council will also be held accountable, as they clearly did not ask the right questions.
Sack those who planned this, sack those who signed off on this and bill the person who clearly thought that this design would work.
If those individuals are not in the roles they were in, then haul them into court and bill them accordingly.
The islanders have paid for this, as well as the numerous junkets and planning lunches and we expect transparency, accountability, a working ferry and a few heads on the chopping block, that have been named, with their photos attached.
If you fit thrusters on the floating bridge your going to cause even more problems!!!! Waste of money and a list of more problems.Think about it.
too wide too long too deep too heavy 28 ton extra weight they were told that at the beginning
28 tons extra good that means it will sink quicker
too long yes.
too wide – shouldnt have any effect on the tide pushing against the side
too heavy – no. it floats.
Personally I would have replicated FB 5, cars on the bottom, foot and cyclists on a new top deck, and built a ramp either side of the river to allow cars and walking to load completely seperately. The height might have been limited, but HGVs drive around Newport anyway. Make it high enough to accomodate the biggest transit van. Or make a top deck for foot passengers a half deck, so high vehicles can go down the side.
Anchor it in the middle, very long drawbridges each side, community service scrotes can work the treadmills to raise and lower them. River traffic can get by at high tides.
By putting side thrusters on is not going to cure the prow hydraulics, the depth of chains, also making it heavier, plus more fuel. It must be worth a lot in scrap value, put the money and what settlement they get from court and buy a new one.
I was told that the reason it does not work was that it was not designed for us, it was designed for someone else who then backed out. Our council thought they would get a good deal by not paying for a proper survey and design of a new vessel. Just brought the one that was already on the drawing board. Does anyone know if that is true?
The Dartmouth Higher Ferry has thrusters to maintain it’s position, so from a marine engineering perspective with the correct design could work. It’s not like the thrusters are needed all the time.
So if this substantial claim is given back to the council , does that mean no one has to pay any council tax this year?
Just asking as an awful lot of the tax payers money has 100 per cent been wasted on this trash !!!!!
The trouble is on the island we do not have the expertise to repair this sort of rubbish. How many times has the floating bridge been in for repair to it’s thrusters before, Quite a few times
which means that the people fixing it have no idea what they are doing.
Why do we not make it into a floating restaurant with all the publicity it get’s that would be quite
a profit earner.
It doesn’t have thrusters yet, so definitely hasn’t had them repaired before.
Still don’t let the facts get in the way of slagging people off for being bad at a job they havnt done because the thrusters don’t exist.
Fair comment i got that wrong
I know you admitted being wrong about the thrusters, but can I just say to you that we do have the expertise on this island. Fairey marine from east cowes built the original floating bridge which lasted for years and we have some of the best boat designers and engineers in the industry.
I’m not causing an argument just pointing it out to you.
I can assure you we do have the expertise on the Island.
There are numerous different local Marine engineers that are time served in there trade, the council just dont listen to them and give them enough credit.
You can never fully fix something that isnt being used in the way it was designed to be.
Side thrusters aren’t going to fix the fact that the bridge cant be used at certain times due to tide.
Wow 6 mnths
Not much difference to the time’s it does operate probably won’t even notice the difference !!!!!
Take the ramps off to fix the hydraulic problems. Build a ramp on each slipway that slides down to meet the bridge and add doors to the bridge to stop cars driving off the end.
Add thrusters as it’s the only way to sort the issue without a replacement.
Take the naval architect to court as they were clearly gazing into their naval when they designed it.
These thrusters will just be another thing to go wrong on a weekly basis. As this ferry was poorly designed and badly made it will continue to be pulled from service as it is now from broken welds, hydraulic problems and oil leaks. The procurement department of IOW council needs investigating just read the story about the new toilets to be built in Ventnor.
Why can’t a swing bridge be built?
Well this news doesn’t surprise anyone with any sense, thrusters will add to the weight
Tow the bloody thing out to sea with all the ordinance found on the beaches and blow the money muncher to bits . We have enough oil drums to make our own floating platform then get those who are responsible for this complete piece of cr-p pull it back and forth till we can get a refund and a new one
If they fit thrusters maybe it will fly !!!!!!
Thunderbirds are go ?
Thrusters will not add to the force of the tide on the side of the vessel. Thrusters are intended to counteract that force. Weight has nothing to do with it.
For 158 years successive Bridges ploughed back and forth across the Medina, there were probably a few problems over the years but nothing like this heap of rubbish. Just get rid of it and order a new one locally. Until 1982 there was always a reserve Bridge !! There should always be a reserve.
the thing cost £4 million. theres no point having a spare sat idle.
Getting rid of it will not happen, or certainly replacing it wont.
Thrusters are the solution that is needed, far from ideal but thats the way it is.