Islanders are being asked to give their views on the future of the troublesome Cowes Floating Bridge, which could be replaced with a brand new vessel, but it would take up to 5 years.
A series of engagement opportunities, including public drop-in information sessions, is being launched by the Isle of Wight Council following a decision by its Cabinet last year to replace the current chain ferry.
The Cabinet also agreed to commission a River Medina Crossing Strategy with an updated business case, options appraisal, output specification and procurement strategy so that any such purchase could ensure best value for council taxpayers.
In recent months, transport experts have been reviewing all available options, against a range of criteria including affordability, sustainability, value for money, reliability and the need to minimise traffic congestion on the local road network.
Following detailed analysis and initial consultation with key stakeholders, including Cowes and East Cowes town councils, Cowes Harbour Commission and elected Isle of Wight Council members from both sides of the River Medina, the most viable possibilities are being put forward for further consideration.
These options are:
• New vessel: Replacement of the existing floating bridge with a new floating bridge (FB7) at a cost of £5-10million with a 2 to 5-year timescale
• Modify existing vessel and/or the operational environment option: through a phased approach involving additional control chains and/or tidal flow reduction and/or adding flush thrusters to the existing vessel, £1-5million cost with a 1-2 year timescale
• Do minimum: Maintain and operate the existing floating bridge with the continued use of the push boat.
It has been confirmed that options ruled out include a cross-Medina bridge, a tunnel, a new type of vessel to make the crossing and also the option of discontinuing a service.
During the forthcoming engagement, the public will be given the chance to air their views in a number of ways, including a survey on the council’s website and drop-in sessions where people can speak to industry experts and council representatives, including those directly responsible for operating the floating bridge.
The drop-in sessions will be between 15:00-17:00 at East Cowes Town Hall on 22nd July, Northwood House, Cowes on 23rd July and The Riverside Centre, Newport on 31st July. The online sessions will take place on 7th August 12:00-13:30 and 12th August 18:00-19:30.
There will also be online sessions for anyone unable to make these events. More information can be found at https://www.iow.gov.uk/transport-and-parking/transport/cowes-floating-bridge/floating-bridge-consultation/.
The consultation is being publicised Island-wide and directly to floating bridge users and ends on 22nd August 2025.
It was only last week that the Floating Bridge was pulled from service… Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/floating-bridge-service-suspended-cars-forced-to-reverse-off-vessel/.
Scrap it and build a flyover.
Easy Peasy, much cheaper in the long run.
Build a new one.
In Cowes.
But the council won’t listen.
As usual.
This consultation is a total waste of our money and going in pockets unnecesarily when it would be better used elsewhere.
In social and mental health services for a start.
All these questions could be could answered by a public questionnaire sent to every household.
But that would not cost us enough.
Stop wasting OUR money.
DUH.
It just show how out of touch and backwards our council are. Why no bridge? The 1 thing that can end the floating bridge fiasco once and for all. Push it under the carpet for good and they ‘rule it out’, we must have the biggest bunch of clowns running this island going. You really can’t make it up sometimes.
Yes, I totally agree. Keep a foot passenger launch service at Cowes and build a toll bridge from Stag Lane to Island Harbour and it would pay for itself.
with what?? plastic pennies??
Is the push boat the source of all the financial problems? These plans seem focussed on it.
Is the push boat the source of all the financial problems? These options appear focussed around the use, or not, of the push boat.
Well you wanted views but you already discard the most obvious views of people here.
A bridge is the only solution to the wasted money on the floating bridge, the traffic chaos, the solution to the movement of traffic, the convenience to pedestrians and drivers.
The Island transport system is outdated, unreliable, expensive and its time to make a big difference here.
How a bridge would change everything for the Island and they rule it out.
No choice there then.
In 5 years time the quote for a replacement ferry will be 5x what it would be now. I’m sure it would be cheaper in the long run to construct a crane bridge or lever bridge of some type. There’s certainly plenty of room to do it.
To dismiss the concept of a bridge across the medina at the outset shows a bias and flawed consultation, the council are saying you can have choice A or B but not the logical C .from an engineering perspective a bridge even one that allows it to be raised what probably cost three times that of an new floating bridge ferry, however the longevity of such a construction would bring huge long term savings
Once Cowes Harbour Commission have achieved their long-term dream of a new marina off East Cowes front, and now that the fuel berth has closed, there will be little need for water traffic up the Medina so a bridge with less air draft would be feasilble (ie cheaper). However, since we don’t do joined-up thinking, no chance of that.
But a consultation which doesn’t permit free expression? Move over, Stalin.
Scrap the turd ..was told about it 4/5 years ago its cost 3 times the original price to build the turd..
You really don’t need a floating bridge or a real bridge. Problem solved.
This new ‘vessel’ has never been fit for purpose, totally unreliable and a utter waste of money. What should have happened is that the old tried and tested floating bride, or chain ferry as it was called, should have had a complete refit at a fraction of the cost, instead of ordering this new one at the time. I seem to recall that it was quite reliable and was only taken out of service once a year for annual maintenance and it was perfectly adequate.
We don’t know everything have a jolly and go look at how they do it in other country’s
Maybe we can’t have a bridge, but something needs to be done and Quickly.
That thing hasn’t worked properly/reliably since Forever!! What The???