People living near a busy waterside footpath in Exeter say lives are being put at risk by a collapsing culvert.
They first began raising concerns over the culvert at Clipper Quay 18 months ago, but have been told that work on repairs may not start until the summer of 2026.
Now they say action is needed before the crumbling culvert collapses or a pedestrian is injured while negotiating barriers around the area.
Devon County Council has apologised for the length of time repairs are taking, and says that discussions are under way to overcome ‘a number of challenges’.
But, said local resident Heather Goddard: “Action is needed now, before somebody is seriously injured or dies either from a traffic accident or by the tunnel collapsing when somebody is unwittingly standing over it.”
The culvert runs under Clipper Quay and emerges into the River Exe opposite Haven Banks.
It carries the Larkbeare watercourse, a stream that flows through the St Leonard’s area of Exeter, particularly near Holloway Street.
Ms Goddard says she first raised concerns over the culvert and the closed footpath around it in 2023.
The collapsing culvert can only be seen from the opposite side of the river. Ms Goddard says this leads to people continuing to walk along the riverside path, pushing aside barriers cordoning off the collapsing area on a daily basis.
“The arch has deteriorated considerably since 2023,” she said. “But people continue to walk along the footpath.”
And, she added, the barriers themselves are causing risks as walkers who do observe the footpath closure are forced into the road which serves nearby flats and is busy with delivery vehicles.
Ms Goddard added: “Families with buggies, wheelchair users and toddlers learning to cycle and scoot are all on this restricted road. I have often observed very near misses.
“On sunny days families come to enjoy the quay, not be placed at risk by local authorities passing the buck.”
A Devon County Council spokesperson said: “The path was closed for safety reasons. However we recognise that the path has been closed for considerably longer than we initially anticipated and we are sorry for the inconvenience.
“Before repair work on the outfall which supports the footpath can begin, there are a number of challenges that must first be overcome. We are working closely with South West Water, the Environment Agency and Exeter City Council to that end.”
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