A rail giant’s bid to shut a pedestrian crossing where children have been seen playing football on the tracks has been knocked back - but the company says it will not give up.

Network Rail’s attempt to permanently close the crossover, which passes over high-speed tracks at Teynham, near Faversham, has been rejected by Kent County Council (KCC), with the firm now intending to seek permission from the government.

While the route is currently closed with a temporary order, KCC has rejected an application for a permanent diversion of the public right of way.

The long-existing route is used by hundreds of residents, especially at weekends, and shutting it permanently would create a long detour, objectors have told the council.

In a public consultation held by Network Rail, of the 23 people who responded only one was in favour of the closure.

It was those concerns that persuaded members of KCC’s regulation committee to reject Network Rail’s application for the diversion of the public right of way at a hearing on November 24.

Due to the risks associated with the crossing, use of the footpath was closed with an emergency order which was then converted into a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order in December 2022. It has been extended for a further year by Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper.

Network Rail says it counted 2,226 footpath users over a 14-day period, and is particularly concerned at the increase in vulnerable people, especially children, who have been recorded using the crossing.

Shockingly, it has revealed youngsters have been playing football on the crossing and even sitting down beside the track.

The company is suggesting creating a new footpath behind the platform to link up with the existing road crossing.

But those opposing the scheme say that would mean close to a half-mile detour for users and would create its own problems, including a potential increase in anti-social behaviour.

Teynham Parish Council believes the path is a vital community route and that extra measures could be installed to make it safer.

Its chairman, Paul Townson, told KCC’s regulation committee their preferred option is keeping the path open and create a recognised safe crossing as it forms an important direct route between Teynham and Conyer.

“This is a popular right of way for people walking, often with the dogs, towards Conyer, the Saxon Shore Way and the Ship Inn Public House,” he said.

“The route is often used by residents to access education, services, and transport links and forms part of the Fruit Belt loop walk, which is popular with visitors and locals alike.”

Parish councillors believe the crossing can be made safer with a number of technical solutions, including installing automatic pedestrian barriers, improved signage and lighting and the installation of permanent CCTV.

But Network Rail has ruled out a pedestrian bridge or a traffic lights system to warn pedestrians, claiming some young people might use it to “play chicken” with trains.

‘This is a popular right of way for people walking, often with the dogs…’

It estimates the cost of installing a warning lights system and alarm at £150,000 and up to £800,000 for a more sophisticated set-up.

The company also says that if reopened, the crossing would have the second highest risk of any level crossing in Kent.

Incidents recorded include three near misses in 2022.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Because we cannot currently improve the safety risks and issues concerned by any other means than the closure, we will apply again for it to be extended by Kent County Council when the current temporary closure expires.

“In the meantime, we will also apply to the Secretary of State for full legal closure – which will go to public enquiry.”

The pedestrian railway crossing deemed by Network Rail to be the most dangerous in Kent is over the Pilgrims Way in Otford which is being permanently closed in March next year.

The decision to divert the route was taken by a planning inspector following a public inquiry in 2021.

Network Rail highlighted numerous incidents on the crossing involving 'vulnerable' children and older people as well as those trying to carry bicycles across.

But KCC initially rejected Network Rail's application to divert the footpath, arguing the safety case had not been fully demonstrated by the company.

There were also more than 50 objections from members of the public. The closure, however, was granted by the government in November 2021 following a public inquiry.