By Isle of Wight Observer
The Alliance administration has bitten the bullet and made the decision to replace Floating Bridge 6, which has been plagued with problems since its launch in 2017.
At the IW Council cabinet meeting last night, council leader and holder of the transport portfolio, Phil Jordan, made the announcement after describing the “struggles and complexities” the council had faced over many years. However, he warned that delivering the project would take some time. He said: “This isn’t the end; it isn’t the beginning of the end or even the end of the beginning. But this Island needs to know we are replacing the Floating Brige.
Work already carried out over recent years will be used to inform the staged process so that the project can be carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible, working with consultants 3S, who say a radical redesign will be necessary.
Cllr Jordan stressed that due process will be followed, but that there would be options on the table that would not commit the IW Council to any additional investment.
East Cowes councillor, Karl Love, clapped as the unanimous vote was taken, and afterwards said: “I feel that I’ve done nothing other than deal with the Floating Bridge since I was elected. This will bring an end to a lot of heartache in my community.
“This is not going to be a quick fix – it will be a few more years yet, but at least the end is in sight.”
