THE floating bridge fiasco took another twist this week when the Isle of Wight Council cabinet member responsible for transport claimed the bridge was 'pretty reliable'.

Cllr Ian Ward's remarks follow a week in which the bridge grounded, developed a fault with its prow, forcing it to be escorted across the Medina during the end of Cowes Week fireworks night, and now has to be pushed into position by a workboat during strong ebb tides.

East Cowes councillor, Karl Love, has called for Cllr Ward to step down, stating the buck stopped with him.

Cllr Love said: "To have a replacement vessel to push the floating bridge across the river looks hideous. It sends out the wrong messages and suggests it is unsafe. Ian Ward's position is untenable. The buck stops with him."

Cllr Ward dismissed calls for him to quit but acknowledged that local residents needed better information about when the bridge was in service.

Cllr Ward dismissed calls for him to quit but acknowledged residents needed better information about when the bridge was in service.

He said: "Actually, it is pretty reliable. It is running 95 per cent of the time. I am confident everyone is trying their best. We have Wight Shipyard working on a solution but that takes time.

"There is no off the shelf solution, it is a complex task."

He said the Isle of Wight Council was working on a solution to better provide information, which would hopefully be in place on Monday.

Meanwhile, East Cowes Business Association added its voice to concerns over the bridge, expressing its dismay at the continuing fiasco.

In a statement, the association said: "During this Cowes Week which is obviously a huge earning period for the businesses in our two towns, the service was completely unacceptable. One of our members had to close all day on Thursday due to no footfall an a consequence of a suspended bridge.

"We feel the people of our two towns have been ignored in this matter and certainly not been informed along the way as was promised at the town council meeting with the leader of the council.

"A permanent solution needs to be found and quickly before we lose any more business."

Last Wednesday, the bridge was out of action for hours after it ran aground, stranding motorists and foot passengers on both sides of the river.

And on Thursday, the bridge developed a faulty ramp, forcing the Isle of Wight Council to deploy two workboats to escort the bridge across the river during the end of Cowes Week firework display, when the vessel was used by thousands of foot passengers.

The ramp has since been repaired, but now the vessel has to be held in position by a workboat during strong ebb tides — which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.