Flushed with success as new loo opens
A LARGE crowd gathered on Sunday, May 15 to watch the official opening of the new flushing toilet at Sandiacre lock cottages by Radio Derby presenter Andy Twigge, known as Twiggy.
There was also a demonstration of spinning and weaving by Sarah Field and Clare Quigley plus the usual free tea, coffee and cake.
The cottages are owned and maintained by the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association (ECPDA). The new toilet cost around £2600 and was funded by money left over by members’ donations that were originally raised to purchase the cottages from the Canal & River Trust.
Sandiacre lock cottages are open to the public free of charge on the third Sunday of each month.
The installation of this toilet will enable ECPDA to open it up to a wider range of people including school parties, UC3A and historical societies.
The cottages were built in 1779 and comprise of cottage, stable and toll house. They are now the only ones surviving on the Erewash Canal.
Next year ECPDA will be holding a rally to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reopening of the Great Northern Basin at Langley Mill. This will be over the spring bank holiday, May 27-29, 2023.
Further information about the cottages and the ECPDA can be found at https:// ecpda.org.uk