TALKS over the Isle of Wight Council getting its money back from the troubled £3.2 million Floating Bridge 6 (FB6) have continued and seem to be heading towards a resolution.

Following an unsuccessful meeting in London last month, in which the council walked away empty-handed, the authority has been continuing talks with a mediator.

While the sum could not be disclosed, the council is looking for a multi-million-pound payout from the architects and builders of FB6.

FB6 has been plagued with problems, malfunctions and breakdowns since it was installed on the River Medina in 2017 and the authority has been trying to get back some of the money it has spent and lost along the way for the last year.

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Isle of Wight County Press:

Why hasn't a settlement been reached over the Isle of Wight Floating Bridge before now?

The reason a settlement could not be reached in March, Cllr Phil Jordan, the cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said at the time was the difference in figures between what the council wanted and what it was being offered.

The difference, Cllr Jordan said, was in the millions.

In an interim update given at the authority's corporate scrutiny committee last night (Tuesday), Cllr Jordan said mediation was not limited to one day but has been ongoing since March, through a mediator working with all parties.

Cllr Jordan said the gap between the figures had been significantly narrowed but no final agreement had been reached.

There was hope, though, that a resolution could be made without having to go to court.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Why isn't the Isle of Wight Floating Bridge running?

After an extended five yearly safety inspection, the Cowes to East Cowes crossing was due to be back in action today (Wednesday), but the Isle of Wight Council yesterday revealed its return has been pushed back until April 23.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Jordan said the vessel's return was delayed while the authority awaits another inspection from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which will determine if it can be put back into service.

In the latest series of unfortunate events for the vessel, when it was being put back into place last week following an MCA inspection in Falmouth, the strong tide pushed FB6 against the seawall, shattering windows.

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The windows were to be replaced, but as a safety matter were being boarded up.

When asked if the broken windows would cause any problems at the upcoming MCA inspection, Cllr Jordan said no.