Cllr Phil Jordan shares this announcement on behalf of the Isle of Wight council Alliance Group. In their own words. Ed
The IW Council Alliance Group is working towards a fit-for-purpose floating bridge that will help local businesses, improve connections, alleviate road traffic problems and restore overall confidence in the service.
Now that certain important legal issues have concluded, the Alliance administration are dedicating their efforts to find the correct solution that will last for decades to come.
Conservative decision led to wasted time and money
During the four years of the previous Conservative administration, the then-leadership discounted the idea of a new floating bridge, leading to wasted time and money and allowed continued disruption to traffic, severely impacting local businesses in both Cowes and East Cowes.
Because of that extended delay under the previous Conservative administration, the Alliance have only recently been able to commence necessary investigations on the current floating bridge and project assess exactly what would be needed to put into place a reliable and sustainable service.
Jordan: Alliance working as quickly as circumstances and process allow
Cllr Phil Jordan, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure said,
“A new floating bridge is still very much under serious consideration. But as many people understand and appreciate, there are a number of factors which must be looked into – such as computer modelling of the river and specific engineering audits to include the current status of the chain pits and depths – before we can finalise any viable solution.
“Whatever we do to make this floating bridge service better, reliable and more frequent, we must do it correctly. The Alliance is working as quickly as circumstances and process allow, but, above all, we must get this right.
“We want to work with professional project management transportation engineering experts to advise the Council professionally and we must, and want to, use local Island engineering expertise where possible.”
FB6 will continue to be as operational as it possibly can
In the meantime, Floating Bridge 6 will continue to be as operational as it possibly can, whilst the necessary engineering and economic reviews are undertaken. These are in hand and work should begin shortly.
These are, of course, important necessary steps to review before embarking on any sustainable solution.
The important thing is that we have now been able to get things to a point where all options can be considered. We have done this by focusing on getting to the best possible solution rather than concentrating on where to apportion blame.
Jordan: We are finally in a position to deliver on promise
Cllr Jordan added,
“We need to be sure that whatever is done next is done correctly, professionally and with certainty so we have a fit-for-purpose floating bridge that will operate efficiently for the next 25 years and more.
“When the Alliance took over the running of the Isle of Wight Council in May last year, we promised to sort out the floating bridge.
“We are now finally in a position to deliver on that promise.”
The Alliance will be providing regular updates, through the press and social media, as things progress on this project.
Image: © With kind permission of Allan Marsh
