An ‘engagement process’ seeking Islanders’ views on a new floating bridge will be held by the Isle of Wight Council in Spring 2025.
The process, which will form an ‘integral part’ of the replacement project, will ensure people’s views are heard.
A spokesperson for the local authority has said it is ‘finalising requirements’ to appoint specialist advisors for the project.
They said:
“Together they will review the previous business case, update it where necessary and carry out a refresh of the options appraisal.
“Work is being carried out through the council’s standard procurement process and we are looking to appoint the successful bidders mid-February 2025.”
In March this year, the council’s cabinet unanimously agreed to replace the troubled, £3.5million Floating Bridge 6 which was first introduced to the River Medina in May 2017.
County Hall leader Phil Jordan said at the time the decision ‘has been a long time coming’.
Cllr Jordan said the agreement reached was the beginning of a process and that options would be looked into which the council would refer to before the purchase of a new ferry.
The cabinet decided prior information, in the form of council reports and reviews put together in recent years, would be used to inform the next steps of the replacement process.
Floating Bridge 6 has been out of service multiple times since the March decision. Last Wednesday, the vessel was withdrawn from service between 09:00-18:00 for maintenance purposes.
The ferry was also suspended at the beginning of this month due to a cable needing to be replaced as a result of what the council called ‘usual operational wear and tear’.
Bring the old one back.
“ISLANDERS’ VIEWS ON NEW FLOATING BRIDGE PLANS TO BE SOUGHT IN THE SPRING”That is great but will anyone take any notice?
Will it make any difference what “islanders” think?
Doesn’t usually.
Who goes to East Cowes anyway!
Scrap it and save a few quid.
The floating bridge, when it works, also goes to West Cowes from East Cowes! So all the people who don’t want to be in East Cowes, as apparently no one goes there, can go to West Cowes and beyond! It’s quite a clever initiative.
Simples. Get hold of the old bridge and make a perfect copy.
Can we have a brand new one this time and not a re-vamped cancelled order, also will the standard procurement process be with or without brown envelopes?
Brown envelopes add to the fun,
it’s a case of you scratch my back
I’ll scratch yours.
Lol
” They have a cunning plan “
This ought to be fun. These pages will be buzzing.
I’d propose getting a new one made by the same people who made this one but, as it only works half the time, we only pay half the price.