“We are going out to the market to find out the art of the possible”, a senior council officer said about the Isle of Wight Council’s Floating Bridge replacement project.
Marine technical advisor Houlder has been appointed to help test the market regarding a new East Cowes-Cowes vessel, Michelle Love told the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee (ERTIC) yesterday evening (19th March 2026).
County Hall decided to push ahead with a plan to find a new ferry in October last year.
Love: The working group is now well established
Ms Love said,
“We brought a report to the committee on 16th October 2025 and from that is a new recommendation for further work to be carried out to assess the market interest around the supply of a new vessel via a working party open to committee members, officers and local qualified stakeholders to act as a Floating Bridge project board.
“The working group is now well established with members of the Isle of Wight Council and representatives from East Cowes town council and Cowes town council, plus captain John Kidd as the harbourmaster representative.
“We meet at least monthly to review the progress as well as the objectives for the future of the Floating Bridge.”
Multiple responses
She said a contract had been awarded to Houlder to carry out market testing on County Hall’s behalf, an exercise open until 31st March 2026.
There have been multiple responses to the testing and there will be a lot for the working group to look at when it next meets on 18th April 2026, Ms Love added.
Committee members also heard a sum of money, which is not ringfenced and subject to how the council must react if it goes into exceptional financial circumstances, is earmarked for a potential new vessel.
Stuart: An appropriate way of trying to deal with the issue
Liberal Democrat councillor Nick Stuart, who chairs the working group, thanked the group and said,
“It’s worked extremely effectively, certainly the meeting we had in East Cowes was quite lively and I think its moved forward.
“I think this is clearly an appropriate way of trying to deal with the issue we face of a Floating Bridge which doesn’t really do what we would like it to do – I think that’s polite.”
Adams: Need a viability study
Councillor Dave Adams, who represents Nettlestone and Seaview as an independent, said,
“I think we need a viability study into the remaining life of the existing vessel. That’s very important we know that before we spend any money.
“It’s not the same vessel and I appreciate the people in Cowes have had lots of problems…I believe we have resolved many of those already.”
Subsidised by around £2,000 per day
ERTIC Alliance chair Julie Jones-Evans highlighted the “financial aspect” of the existing vessel which she said was outside of the norm, in a negative way.
Empowering Islanders leader Councillor Chris Jarman said the Floating Bridge is currently subsidised by around £2,000 per day, which Ms Love confirmed.
Councillor Jones-Evans continued,
“We are mid-process right now so I wouldn’t be welcoming any other committee decisions right now off the hoof to divert what we’re doing…we need to follow through where we are.”
Blake: Sick of hearing…derisory comments towards our Floating Bridge
Councillor Ed Blake, leader of the Conservative group, said,
“That vessel is not the same vessel that it was. Its problems it has got now are entirely environmental in terms of the timings…that would be faced by any vessel – the maintenance costs, the maintenance schedule.
“What I am particularly sick of hearing…are the derisory comments towards our Floating Bridge.
“That Floating Bridge is running at 100 per cent. Please get out and use it. I hope it’s in situ for many years to come…hopefully when we control the council next year, we’ll be chucking this out.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
