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Letter to Helen Whately MP

Request for Support for a Road Safety Review on Lower Road, Teynham

To: Helen Whately MP
Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid Kent

Date: June 2026

Dear Helen,

Request for Support for a Road Safety Review on Lower Road, Teynham

I am writing on behalf of Teynham Parish Council regarding growing road safety concerns on Lower Road, Teynham, particularly between Tonge / Snipeshill and Norton Lane / Deerton Street.

First, we wish to express our sincere condolences following the recent death of a 17-year-old motorcyclist on this route. Our thoughts remain with their family and friends.

Over a number of years, this corridor has experienced several fatal and serious collisions involving motorists, motorcyclists and cyclists. Residents regularly raise concerns about vehicle speeds, dangerous overtaking, loss-of-control incidents and near misses.

While the causes of individual collisions are a matter for the relevant authorities, the cumulative impact on the community is considerable. Some residents now avoid sections of Lower Road altogether because they perceive the route to be unsafe.

Teynham Parish Council is concerned that publicly available collision statistics may not fully reflect local experience. In response, we have compiled a community incident log and indicative corridor map, which are being shared with Kent County Council, Kent Police and other agencies.

We are requesting a multi-agency review of the Lower Road, Teynham corridor, including:

  • Historic collision and casualty data.
  • Police incident records and other available evidence.
  • Traffic speeds and driver behaviour.
  • Potential engineering, enforcement and educational measures.
  • Consideration of the corridor as a whole rather than individual locations in isolation.

We would be grateful for your support in encouraging the relevant agencies to undertake such a review. A copy of the letter to KCC can be viewed here.

This request is not intended to apportion blame for any individual incident. Rather, it reflects a genuine concern that the apparent pattern of serious collisions warrants further investigation.

We would also welcome your assistance in securing a meeting between Kent County Council, Kent Police and local representatives to discuss the findings of any review and potential next steps.

Thank you for your consideration and continued support of local communities across the constituency.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Townson
Chair
Teynham Parish Council