62 November 2017 Canal Boat canalboat.co.uk
G
iven that it’s some years since
we last reported on the Derby
Canal restoration in detail, you
might be forgiven for expressing
disappointment when I say that we can’t
report on the number of locks restored, or
other signs of physical reopening.
But bear with us, because there has
been a great deal of progress on the
unglamorous but crucial behind-the-scenes
‘political’ side of restoration. And Derby &
Sandiacre Canal Trust’s Chris Madge is
confident this will be translated into
practical work on the ground within as short
a timescale as the next 12 months or so.
We aren’t just talking about a single
project, either. At least four lengths are
looking likely to see significant physical
progress, spread out along the route, all
with different characteristics and different
approaches to getting the waterway open.
But before we get into the interesting
practical stuff, let’s return briefly to the
dull-but-necessary political progress.
The Trust believes the most important
step came in 2010, when the restoration of
the entire 15km through-route, running
through four local authority areas, was
granted planning permission. As Chris
puts it, it’s all about “political positioning”- getting recognition for the restoration,
control over the use of the route corridor,
and protection of the line for the future.
To see how that political recognition is
turning into actual restoration, we’ll take a
trip along the entire length – heading
westwards from the Erewash Canal at
Sandiacre into Derby city, then south to
meet the Trent & Mersey at Swarkestone.
It’s a trip you can make yourself on foot- we did, and it gives a good insight into
the challenges faced, and the different
ways that DSCT plans to deal with them.
The Derby Canal begins at a junction
with the Erewash above Sandiacre Lock.
There are some impressive plans for restoring the Derby Canal
- including a remarkable boat lift – but the Canal Trust now
believes it’s on the point of turning them into physical progress
Putting plans
into practice...A statement of intent at Sandiacre Junction
Work starts on restoring the cottages at Draycott