Third time lucky for boat lift?

Published: Monday, 26 March 2018

THE Chesterfield Canal Trust is considering a boat lift to take the derelict canal out of the Rother valley.

This is the third time a lift has been mooted to further a canal restoration but the previous two have come to nothing, so will it be a case of 'third time lucky'?

chest PreLockRemainsCame to nothing

In the past the creation of the Milton Keyes to Bedford Waterway was to have a boat lift to surmount Brogborough Hill near Milton Keynes and the Derby & Sandicre Canal was to have a lift over the Derwent in Derby, but both came to nothing.

Now the members of the Chesterfield Canal Trust are being asked to submit ideas for raising the canal out of the Rother valley, with the idea of a boat lift 'similar to Anderton' being considered.

But the expense would be formidable, so perhpaps the well tried method of locks will be the ultimate solution.

The photograph shows the site of one of the locks of the flight up to Norwood tunnel, with all in a similar condition.