By this time the closure of feeder canals resulting in a loss of trade and competition from other forms of transport was making itself felt and the last commercial narrowboat delivered its cargo in 1952.

The Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association, ECP&DA was formed in 1968 with the purpose of restoring the canal to full navigation; the achievement of this goal was celebrated with a boat rally in 1973 at the Great Northern Basin in Langley Mill.

Under the act, a total of 82 route miles (132 km) were upgraded to Cruising Waterway Standard.

Problems with the Nutbrook Canal's water supply instigated the re-laying of rails on the incline and its extension under the Midland Railway's Erewash Valley line and under the Midland Railway's Eastwood Colliery branch line, to Shipley Wharf.

The coal wagons descended the incline under braking relying on gravity and accumulated momentum to carry them to the sidings where they were connected to an endless rope kept in motion by a stationary steam engine in the centre of the triangle.

Using this mechanism the colliery wagons were brought alongside the wharf and could be emptied directly into waiting narrowboats.

The colliery was therefore, well served with transport options with the choice of two canals and two railways to export their coal.

The Great Northern Railway branch crossed the Nottingham Canal using a swing bridge.

One of the ECP&DA's achievements was the re-opening of the Great Northern Basin at Langley Mill.

[7] The owners said that the vandalism had killed many fish, left others with breathing problems and washed birds nests away.