The Cabinet member for Transport and Infrastructure has challenged reports that a replacement floating bridge would take a minimum of four to six years to implement.
News OnTheWight yesterday (Wednesday) reported the news, as well as an update on the legal case against the naval architect, Burness Corlett Three Quays (BCTQ) and the boat builder, Mainstay Marine Solutions Ltd (MMSL).
Jordan: Info is “wide of the mark”
This morning Cllr Phil Jordan (Alliance Group) has been in touch to say “the suggestion a replacement vessel would take four to six years to procure is very wide of the mark”.
He said,
“At worst, including the long process of tendering and ordering it would be a maximum of three years from the time the decision was taken to commission a new vessel.”
The information the article was based on came from the latest Isle of Wight council Forward Plan (a document that contains information about all upcoming decisions).
Jordan: The paper has not yet been produced
Cllr Jordan added,
“I’m also not sure about the references to the cabinet paper for October on the Floating Bridge either.
“As we speak, the paper has not yet been produced and it has to come to me first for approval and we are working on a number of options for the paper dependent on developments with SLEP, commissioning an Independent technical report and the arrangements being put in place for Mediation.”
News OnTheWight explained to Cllr Jordan that the information was gathered from the latest council document issued just two days ago (7th September).
Jordan: There are changing details
Cllr Jordan replied,
“I suspect this is not updated due to the matter being moved from September to October.
“There are changing details even as we speak on this, so the forward plan is probably never going to be up to date on issues that are prone to change.”
News OnTheWight has asked who is responsible for stating that a replacement bridge would take 4-6 years to implement and will update once we hear back
