The Cowes Floating Bridge has only been back on the Island a matter of hours but it has already been damaged – with 2 windows smashed.
Earlier on today (Monday) Island Echo reported that Floating Bridge No.6 had returned from its 5-yearly inspection at a drydock in Falmouth. Many quipped about how long it would be until the vessel would be out of action.
Unbelievably, the chain ferry has already hit difficulties after smashing up against the side of the sea wall whilst trying to dock at the East Cowes slipway.
One of the vessel’s windows has been completely smashed with another showing a gaping hole.
The Isle of Wight Council has already said that the Floating Bridge service across the River Medina won’t be back in action until next Wednesday (13th April), however, it’s unclear if this latest incident will push that restart date back.
How much more tax payers money to be wasted on this debacle of a “Service”.
S**t happens, it’s not the end of the world.
Well said ting, it is only a boat on a rope, after all.
June i know one thing it wont be my council tax any more rate payers are now totaly peed of with this vesel who will pay this time ,it certainly wont be the council
If it didn’t cost us so much (wasted) money, it would be funny. Since it does, it isn’t. At all.
You really couldn’t make this up!! How many experienced ‘boat drivers’ must there be on this Island? Name and shame these muppets, because they are costing us (the tax payer) even more money….
Best get a Bishop in and exorcise this “ferry”. Definitely bad ju ju.
We need to ‘exorcise ‘ the council people responsible for our financial losses!
It’s ok we will pay for the repairs
And the next news……
After reinstalling the chains and towing the thing into position it was discovered that it is now 90° out of position and loading and unloading will have to be carried out from the river. A council spokesman said ‘we are looking into the problem but don’t expect to be able to do anything about it. Intended users will be supplied with floatation bags to assist with loading and and loading.’
Don’t joke!!
That’s what the smashed windows are for, they are new access ports.
Two new windows. That will take about six weeks then…
Start deducting the repair costs from the councillors expenses claims and then watch them scurry around and sort this debacle out.
You really couldn’t make it up.
You really couldn’t make this up, an absolute shambles from start to finish
Incompetent and pathetic …….
Omg (lol) how on earth did that happen ????
In reply to who asked how long will window replacement takes !!!!!! If you order a new bed or table etc 16 / 20 weeks….
New side garage door window 16/20 weeks !!!!!
New floating bridge window ????? Who knows ?
Probably in time for end of summer school holidays !!!!!!
Told you the 13th is unlucky for some !!!!!!
Best just scrap it now …..
There are no words really, I’m actually embarrassed for the fact I live on the island and by default so I’m associated with this complete farce, it’s like a sketch from the Two Ronnie’s !!!
Hahaha no 2 Ronnie’s definitely funnier ! Lol …
This needs to go in the Guinness Book of Records as1 of the Biggest jokes of the Century….
The 1st Biggest joke as we all know is the Council …..
Unbelievable!!!! More of our Council Tax wasted on repairing this POS!!!!!
Sorry not being rude but please Don’t copy my !!!!!!! Etc
Stop this continual loss making rubbish. Build a bridge and remove the people responsible for the debacle.
Give her a “Vikings Funeral”
Sorry not worthy of a viking funeral !!!!!!!
But a ruddy great BOMB may well be the answer …..
There’s more chance of winning the lottery,
than ever getting across on the floating bridge .
If it comes back in to service simply everybody stop using it there will be no profit made ! To pay wages etc etc etc then it will become a lost commodity and be taken out of service.
A few years ago I went on the KING HARRY Chain ferry in Cornwall and said to the ticketmaster how expensive the crossing was compared to the IOW chain ferry. He killed me by saying YES BUT OURS WORKS ! Stll true years later what a joke we are
Unbelievable, goes all the way to falmouth,somehow passes all the safety checks,back to island snd smash,couldnt we off left it in Falmouth
You couldn’t make it up.What a fiasco this is
I joked would be broken and out of service after two days, they proved me wrong and broke it with in two hours!!! :-O
What a load a Shitesters
Give this vessel away for free.
As a thought should the council look at how the sandbanks ferry works and all the problems they don’t get .if they can run a ferry service in these remote places with an outboard motor and planks of timber to get on and off with then maybe serious thought to a lift bridge . BUT the problem must be solved and soon
What gets me is that the service charges are totally illegal. They were voted in on the efficiencies of the bridge when it was new. Every aspect has failed and people still have to pay. The service is comical. Staff stand around waiting for something, not sure what. Cars are waved on instead of a simple traffic light system. Going to Southampton is quicker and I’m not joking. It’s unfathomably bad.