New generators for troubled chain ferry 'essential'

Plans for new generators for the Isle of Wight's troubled floating bridge have been welcomed, but a councillor has urged its replacement to be built quickly.

Chair of the island's council, Karl Love said he supported spending £35,000 on the generators, but the council "must get on" with replacing the vessel.

The chain ferry on the River Medina, between Cowes and East Cowes, is often pulled from service and is set to be replaced.

The council said the generators would "deliver a more dependable and efficient service" in the future.

Floating Bridge 6 has been plagued with problems, with the most recent suspension at the end of last month due to a generator and battery fault.

Isle of Wight Council said the original generators had been in operation for eight years and had "reached the end of their working life".

Maintenance and finding parts was "increasingly challenging", it added.

Mr Love, who represents East Cowes, said: "The replacement of the generator is essential but one cannot help feeling that the snail like approach to replacing the Floating Bridge is not helping the situation.

"Please will the Isle of Wight Council get on with replacing it to save funding and spend the ring-fenced funding which diminishes all the time with inflation pressures."

The council's cabinet unanimously agreed to replace the £3.5m ferry in March last year.

In November the council announced a Spring 2025 "engagement process" with the "public and key stakeholders" on the new bridge.

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