By Rufus Pickles - Local Democracy Reporter
The long-running saga of the troubled floating bridge returned to County Hall this week, with an Isle of Wight councillor demanding action on its replacement.
Cllr Karl Love, who represents East Cowes, expressed his frustration during an extraordinary full council meeting on Wednesday, pointing out that it has been 14 months since the council agreed to begin replacing the chain ferry – yet no physical progress has been made.
He said: “Fourteen months ago this council agreed to start the process of replacing the floating bridge. Since then, not even a nut, screw or nail has been bought.
“It’s reported the bridge is losing at least £1 million a year, and it’s not even being discussed. What are we doing to mitigate these losses? What action is being taken? When are we actually going to start replacing it – not just talk about it?”
The floating bridge has been plagued with technical and operational issues since its launch in 2017. A replacement was agreed by the council’s cabinet in March 2023.
Council leader Phil Jordan said the matter was no longer part of his remit. “There is a committee with a chairman that has the floating bridge as part of its oversight,” he said.
The new chairman of the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, said a report is expected to come before the committee in July.
She added: “I called you a couple of days ago, Cllr Love, to say I’d update you as soon as I had more information. I haven’t had an update myself. My first meeting with officers and Cllr Ward [her deputy chairman], is next week to begin setting the agenda.”
Mal Butler 
Isle of Wight Observer