By Isle of Wight Observer
Councillors unanimously voted to replace Floating Bridge 6 last night, after former council leader, Lora Peacey Wilcox, said that so many bits of the vessel had been replaced it resembled ‘Trigger’s broom’ in Only Fools and Horses. Trigger claimed to have used the same broom for 20 years, despite it having had 17 new heads and 14 new handles.
A revised recommendation was accepted by the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure Committee who rejected officers’ advice that the existing vessel should be modified.
The committee has now instructed officers to work with a project board to procure a company qualified to draft a high-level specification, with the vessel operating from the same sites, providing five crossings an hour at least and a high level of sustainability. They stressed that various operating and ownership models can be considered and lessons will be learnt from mistakes made in the past.
The committee will consider progress at its meeting on January 22, with the intention of making a formal decision and starting the tendering process at its meeting on January 22, ahead of the local government elections due in May next year.
Officers had argued that a modified bridge would offer better value and lower borrowing rules.
