Element 2
The Derby Arm
The concept of the Derby Arm is the brainchild of Derbyshire engineer Alec Dodd. Alec was formerly Chief Turbine Design Engineer for Rolls Royce and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Since his retirement, he has continued as an inventor with 75 active world-wide patents to his credit.
In our plans to restore the Derby Canal, we had to find the means of crossing the River Derwent without compromising the river at the 99 year flood level. As the river is the summit of the Derby Canal, it presented some difficulties in finding a method which would also have a water supply to cross the Derwent. Several possible solutions have been discussed including an aqueduct, water fed by back pumping.
Alec designed the Derby Arm and his idea was considered to be the most desirable solution because:
- It would not interfere with the 99 year flood level
- It requires no independent water supply
- It is an iconic structure standing as high as a cooling tower, celebrating Britain's engineering excellence and heritage
- It has a practical and essential application
- It would have international significance
- It would stand close to the city centre
- It would stand next to Derby's historic Railway Roundhouse and Midland Counties Rail Workshops
- It would celebrate Derbyshire engineering greats such as James Brindley, (canals) Joseph Paxton, (the Crystal Palace), Sir Charles Fox, (the Crystal Palace), Sir Francis Fox, (Sydney Harbour Bridge), Benjamin Outram, (canals and tram-roads), Sir Henry Rolls, Andrew Handyside, (cast iron structures), George Sorocold, (water engineer and builder of The Derby Silk Mill, one of the world's first factories). The list goes on
- It would celebrate Derbyshire's importance to the Industrial Revolution and link by river to the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
- It is designed by a Derbyshire Engineer
- It would be a massive tourist attraction, (ref. Falkirk Wheel visitor numbers)
- It would demand a visitor centre, increasing job opportunities and income for the city
- It is low tech and fuel efficient
Above all, it is spectacular!
Alec is currently seeking Research and Development funding of £50k and has had some promising responses to his requests but no offers of funding or practical help. The cost of building cannot be fully estimated until the initial R&D work and Feasibility Study is complete, but he suggests £7m -£10m.
British Waterways has never owned nor controlled the Derby Canal and is neither able to invest nor participate in any element of 'Living Waters'.
Location
The land on which The Derby Arm would stand is owned by Network Rail. A preliminary meeting has taken place with their engineers in York and, in principle; they have no objections to the location or building of The Derby Arm.
Options
"No idea is too silly!"
That was the design brief given to the engineers and architects who designed the Falkirk wheel. British Waterways' Chief Engineer, Scotland was amazed to see the basic Derby Arm design in the waterways press. He sent us a photo copy of the brainstorming sketch pad used at their design meeting. Included with the first sketch of The Falkirk Wheel and other designs was a sketch similar to The Derby Arm. The Falkirk Wheel, (made by the Butterley Company, Derbyshire), has become the second most visited tourist site in Scotland...
...next to Edinburgh Castle!
Supported by Derby & Derbyshire Economic Partnership