Abseiling engineers begin repair work at Exeter quayside

Engineers are working to secure the wall

Abseiling engineers have begun work to repair a wall above listed cellar units at Exeter quayside.

Exeter City Council began strengthening work on 19 February and should complete it in 11 weeks.

Heather Baker, who owns bike and boat hire businesses Saddles and Paddles, praised the workers for their "dangerous" job.

"It's not everyday that you see people abseiling to repair parts of a wall," she said.

Repair and stabilisation works are being carried out by Exeter City Council to a 105m (344ft) stretch of cliff face wall, on the city centre side of the River Exe.

Two businesses have temporarily closed while parts of the repair work are completed.

'So much history'

Ms Baker said the temporary closures have not been a major issue for the business community.

"The city council have been communicating that it's going ahead for a long time.

"There will be some impact and inconvenience but far less than if they were condemned and we couldn't trade from them anymore."

While the scaffolding is not "aesthetically pleasing", repair work is part of operating out of a listed building, the shop owner said.

"I always think of myself as the custodian of these buildings which have so much history.

"We might get frustrated that they get damp, but they're listed buildings, they follow the line of Exeter's City wall, we are quite privileged that we get to run our businesses from them."

Since the repair works began Ms Baker said the abseiling engineers have become entertainment for potential customers.

"We have a lot of respect for the contractors, its incredibly skilled work they're having to do.

"They're doing a difficult and at times dangerous job.

"As they've said themselves, they've become a spectacle."