Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox (Isle of Wight Councillor for Cowes Medina) and Councillor Cameron Palin (East Cowes Town Councillor for Osborne) have called for the immediate replacement of Floating Bridge 6.
Their demand comes as Isle of Wight Council staff recommend keeping the current vessel, despite expert reports, councillor opposition and strong public disapproval.
The vessel, which was dubbed Floaty McFloatfarce after endless issues from the moment it first went into service, is running at a loss of more than £1 million a year to run.
Council officers’ recommendations
In their latest report to the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure Committee, officers advised the committee to:
i. Note that buying a new vessel does not represent value for money, is unaffordable, and does not satisfy the legal requirements needed to borrow for the capital costs.
ii. Recommend to the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee that up to £400,000 be allocated from the Floating Bridge Settlement Agreement for limited modifications to Floating Bridge 6, including additional chains.
iii. Approve, subject to funding, the procurement of works for these chain modifications only.
iv. Note the views expressed during public engagement, alongside the best-case findings of the economic and financial assessments.
“Enough is enough — we need a new bridge”
Councillor Cameron Palin said he felt “absolutely disgusted” by the latest report.
He explained,
“Despite a democratic cabinet vote, expert advice from world-renowned engineering consultants 3s, and clear feedback from the local community, officers are trying to keep Floating Bridge 6 afloat.
“In my view, throughout this process, council staff have put up one obstacle after another to stop councillors from delivering a new floating bridge. Enough is enough — our community deserves better, and we deserve to be listened to. We need a new bridge.”
Millions lost on an unfit vessel
Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox pointed to the financial impact of continuing with Floating Bridge 6.
She said,
“Floating Bridge 6 is running at a loss of over £1 million a year — thanks to endless repairs, a yard full of spares, spiralling maintenance costs, and a total collapse of public confidence in the service.
“As former council leader, I made sure we secured mediation funds and ring-fenced them for a future bridge — not to be frittered away on consultations that tell us what we already know.
“Floating Bridge 6 is not fit for purpose. Keeping it is a calamitous waste of taxpayers’ money.”
To date, Floating Bridge 6 has cost taxpayers an additional £9 million in losses and costs, on top of its original £3.2 million purchase price and £1.4 million for slipway works.
Public and experts ignored
Council staff have run public meetings, drop-in sessions and consultations over the past year.
Residents from both Cowes and East Cowes have consistently voiced support for a replacement, but the latest officer recommendation advises retaining Floating Bridge 6.
Call for decisive action
Councillors Peacey-Wilcox and Palin are urging the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure Committee to reject the recommendation and press ahead with a replacement project.
They want full committee oversight and a turnkey procurement process, to ensure a new bridge is designed, built and delivered by qualified experts.
They warned against what they described as a ‘sunk cost fallacy’.
“We believe that the staff have succumbed to the ‘sunk cost fallacy’, believing that you should throw good money after bad, even if you know it will never serve the economy, businesses, local community, and road network correctly.
“We’re asking the committee to stand with residents, of which 64% are supportive or strongly supportive of a new bridge, stand with democracy by honouring the previous cabinet vote, and stand for common sense.
“It’s time to scrap Floating Bridge 6 and build a bridge that works.”
