By Isle of Wight ObserverA meme has appeared on social media mocking the floating bridge’s extended timetable.
The Isle of Wight Can Depress Facebook page posted the meme at 6.44pm on Wednesday (August 1) – the same day Isle of Wight Council (IWC) released the Cowes Week timetable for the bridge.
The meme reads, “a floating bridge is for life, not just Cowes Week”.
The floating bridge has encountered a number of issues since its launch on May 13, 2017.
It broke down the next day on May 14, service was suspended on May 15.
Fast forward to 2018 and IWC’s current Conservative Cabinet has commissioned design changes to the vessel to be carried out by Wight Shipyard.
The extended service will be available on the Cowes floating bridge during Lendy Cowes Week 2018.
Extra sailings have been added to the regular timetable, in anticipation of more people visiting the regatta.
The amended schedule includes a continuous daily service running until 1.50am from Friday (August 3) to the early hours of Sunday (August 12).
There will also be extra crossings at 20-minute intervals from each side of the River Medina every night, finishing from Cowes at 3.10am.
Councillor Ian Ward, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, commented in the original press release.
He said: “Lendy Cowes Week 2018 is a chance to showcase our Island and attract visitors to our shores.
“It is, therefore, important that we are able to provide people with a good floating bridge service during this period.”
As usual, on firework night Friday (August 10) the floating bridge will only operate for foot passengers between 6pm and 11pm.
Due to high levels of demand on firework night, we would advise people to purchase their tickets to travel on the vessel in advance.
IWC and Cllr Ward have been asked for comment.
Isle of Wight Observer