We should be proud of the service the Floating Bridge provides, the Isle of Wight’s transport boss has said.
It follows the feedback from frequent East Cowes to Cowes chain ferry users, nearly half of whom suggested the service was poor or below average.
Speaking at a meeting of the policy and scrutiny committee for neighbourhoods and regeneration last night (Thursday), Cllr Phil Jordan, the cabinet member for transport and infrastructure said, said we would be forgiven for thinking the vessel never runs due to the narrative ‘in some corners’, but argued it was not the case.
Operated 97 per cent of scheduled hours
Cllr Jordan said, since the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s inspection in spring last year, the Floating Bridge had operated for 97 per cent of its scheduled hours — around 4,500 hours over nine months.
A survey of saver card holders between July and August — the results of which have just been published — found passengers thought the service could be improved, including operating to a fixed timetable; a new app or text service; email updates; and a faster turnaround.
Most told the Isle of Wight council, which operates the Floating Bridge, that ticket prices were about right.
Action plan developed
The authority says it has developed an action plan, including reviewing operating hours, loading and unloading procedures and staff training.
The Cowes to East Cowes chain ferry was out of service for nearly six weeks between March and April, when it was taken to Falmouth for its five-yearly safety inspection.
Windows smashed upon return
It returned to the Island at the start of April but as it was being returned to the banks of the River Medina, the vessel was pulled by the tide and crashed into the riverside wall of GKN, smashing two windows.
The incident delayed the return of FB6 by another ten days.
The downtime has been improved, Cllr Jordan said, by having a stock of spare parts, meaning repairs can be done more quickly.
Small repairs equated to about three per cent of the total operating time.
Jordan: We should be proud of that service in the last year
The reputation of the Floating Bridge, due to historic failures, has created the wrong perception the service is poor, said Cllr Jordan.
He said,
“We should be proud of that service in the last year. I accept there have been problems with the vessel and service, but it has improved.”
Cllr Ian Ward, the former transport cabinet member, agreed and said the service’s reputation had always been incorrect and it was “generally more reliable than a cross-Solent ferry.”
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
Image: © With kind permission of Allan Marsh
