Cowes Floating bridge ,,, Its gone!

[girlofwight]

I agree that the reliabilty is just incompetence, it could easily be made reliable.

The real issue in my mind is the size of it and the problem that causes during the spring ebb. Which is partly the fault of the previous councillors, but also I think it was a SEEDA vanity project, they had money to burn in East Cowes, it just had to be bigger and better.

I just dont bother. I go round.

The problem it causes me is when my Red Jet home is cancelled, a hundred foot pax need to cross, if the white elephant is out of action we have a long wait to cross 12 at a time.

Or, the Red Funnel arrives, disgorges 100 foot pax, just as they arrive the white elephant c**ts lower the barrier and f**k off leaving us to wait in a biting wind. Just as they did recently. No joined up thinking.

Seeda was abolished about 2012/2013 ish. This is the handiwork of the LEP.

 

[girlofwight]

There's a special committee on the Island that deals with roadworks planning. The main challenge they generally have to solve is to make sure when any (relatively) main road must be dug up then any possible alternative route should also be dug up concurrently.
The secondary challenge is to ensure when water/ gas / BT / Wight Fibre or electricity need access to dig up a road, they have to take their turn with a week or so in between time thus ensuring the maximum delays

They excelled recently.

Fairlee Rd closed and they closed the roundabout at the top of Long Lane.

Chale to East Cowes was right f**k about.

I see you and I raise you. Smallbrook Roundabout 5 months and counting for a simple road widening. Meanwhile our Victorian forefathers built Miles Street Arch, Lambeth, with 90,000 bricks in 45 hours.

 

[Stemar]

I see you and I raise you. Smallbrook Roundabout 5 months and counting for a simple road widening. Meanwhile our Victorian forefathers built Miles Street Arch, Lambeth, with 90,000 bricks in 45 hours.

Yes, but they didn't have committee oversight and health and Safety to contend with

 

[Lightwave395]

I'm driving from Cowes to Ryde tomorrow, I may be gone some time...

 

[Pete7]

I'm driving from Cowes to Ryde tomorrow, I may be gone some time...

Would you be quicker in the dinghy?

 

[burgundyben]

I'm driving from Cowes to Ryde tomorrow, I may be gone some time...

Is there still roadworks on Staplers Hill?

You could go up that rat run near Asda that comes out near the thatched pub by the turning for the downs road.

Good luck.

 

[ashtead]

There was an interesting diversion at Sandown Past the rugby club I discovered on Saturday as I ventured back from the garden centre . It seems the council has a pot of cash to spend on road repairs maybe . They seem to have found a few bob to dig up the esplanade at ryde I see and instal more traffic lights -just in time for the summer season I guess. I’m sure the local ryde residents are chuffed.

 

[penfold]

Should replace it with a copy of the lower Dart ferry, that's about as simple as ferries get being a dumb pontoon with ramps at either end. They can't sod it up then.

 

[KompetentKrew]

It's been 5 years already!?

Any news on the lawsuit?

 

[The Q]

I think you guys need..

 

[dslittle]

Would you be quicker in the dinghy?

Or walking???

 

[ashtead]

Love the Dutton -a friends father ran a hotel in Ryde down on the front had one in red for crossing the Solent but also drove it along the beach .

 

[ashtead]

It's been 5 years already!?

Any news on the lawsuit?

It’s amazing how little info has been released to the good citizens and ratepayers of Council on topic. As councillor Dave was deposed the new admin seems to have Been v quiet on the mediation - my suspicion is a high degree of contrib negligence by the councils officers in agreeing the spec but I have no inside knowledge. I suspect the new admin wants this fiasco to sink rather like the best option for FB6.I’m sure a full investigation into councils conduct might tell the story in 5 years or so.

 

[Dutch01527]

Should replace it with a copy of the lower Dart ferry, that's about as simple as ferries get being a dumb pontoon with ramps at either end. They can't sod it up then.

Agreed, the lower Dart ferry is an engineering masterpiece. For those who do not know it it is a big pontoon with a ramp on either end connected to a tug by two big lines. The tug pivots using it’s own power to reverse direction. No chains, no dependence on tide levels.

 

[burgundyben]

Agreed, the lower Dart ferry is an engineering masterpiece. For those who do not know it it is a big pontoon with a ramp on either end connected to a tug by two big lines. The tug pivots using it’s own power to reverse direction. No chains, no dependence on tide levels.

As much I as adore the lower ferry, there is also a bigger one upstream which I think is on chains or maybe cables.

Lower ferry tugs Hauley (4 and 5 I think) have 14ltr normally aspirated Cummins engines and sound glorious.

Both Dart ferries vastly better than the Cowes piece of crap.

 

[Mudisox]

As much I as adore the lower ferry, there is also a bigger one upstream which I think is on chains or maybe cables.

Lower ferry tugs Hauley (4 and 5 I think) have 14ltr normally aspirated Cummins engines and sound glorious.

Both Dart ferries vastly better than the Cowes piece of crap.

Cables on upper ferry but lower ferry much nicer and the crew will actually chat to you as well as taking your fare. One of the few things that are good about services run by local councils.

 

[Sandy]

Both Dart ferries vastly better than the Cowes piece of crap.

The Torpoint ferries are quite fun to pass.

 

[ashtead]

The one advantage of the east cowes one is it rarely leaves it’s berth so easy to get past . Much safer than those on the dart which actually seem to want to provide a service.

 

[Hacker]

Looks like you’ll be getting it back tomorrow @VicS . Falmouth Harbour website shows it leaving tomorrow. Are you planning a welcoming home party.

 

[Lightwave395]

Looks like you’ll be getting it back tomorrow @VicS . Falmouth Harbour website shows it leaving tomorrow. Are you planning a welcoming home party.

We'll be on Gurnard seafront with an RPG...