# Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne

Kenton is a suburb and electoral ward in the north west of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. It borders the Town Moor and Gosforth. Kenton also has close road links to Newcastle Airport. The ward population at the 2011 Census was 11,605.
The area borders Kingston Park, notable for the Kingston Park shopping centre, as well as Kenton School, one of the largest schools in the UK with approximately 2000 students.
The nearest Tyne and Wear Metro station is Fawdon, with stations at Kingston Park and Bank Foot the other side of the A1 Western bypass. Nearby places include Fawdon and Cowgate.

## Residential

Kenton contains a wide range of residential areas and developments. These residential areas range from Council housing estates to modern middle class new-builds and privately owned residential estates. In North Kenton and Kenton Bar, the housing is predominantly council owned. Kenton Lane, which runs through the heart of Kenton, contains traditional 1930s housing on both sides of the road, with more affluent households lining the streets behind.

## Places of interest

Kenton contains a wide range of amenities and services for the local community, although some of these amenities are considered to be in Kingston Park and/or bordering Gosforth.
Kenton borders Kingston Park, home to the flagship Tesco Extra store, and has a smaller Tesco Express on Kenton Lane.
North Kenton hosts a shoppings centre locally known as Kenton Retail. The Shopping Centre dates back to the 1950s as it was built with the grown demand of houses. The centre is part of an ongoing renovation project that started late 2014, where it has been transformed into a refreshed centre.
The shopping centre shares a car park with the Kenton Centre. The Kenton Centre is located on Hillsview Avenue also includes a GP surgery, library, housing office and a social services team.
Kenton Dene is a large green space between Kenton, Montague and Cowgate that exists to the side of Kenton Lane. It has been host to many local events and festivals and is a popular area for dog walkers and walkers alike. Kenton Riding School is situated next to Kenton Dene. The dene also leads onto part of the Newcastle Moor.

## History

Possibly the first Kenton streets, Shiney Row & Low Row, were built for Kenton Colliery which was situated in what is now Montagu Estate. The colliery was the supply point for Kitty's Drift, a 3-mile underground railway tunnel used for transporting coal to the Bells Close staiths on the Tyne near Scotswood.
Kenton was formerly a township in the parish of Gosforth, in 1866 Kenton became a separate civil parish, on 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1931 the parish had a population of 417. In 1974 it became part of the metropolitan district of Newcastle upon Tyne.

## Local representation

Kenton is currently represented locally by three Labour City Councillors; Ged Bell, Stephen Lambert and Paula Maines.
Paula Maines first become a city councillor in the 2016 local elections where she in Ouseburn Ward at this time she went under the name Paula Holland and lost her reelection in 2022 local elections. As well as being a ward councillor Paula is a cabinet member for a Resilient City. Paula leads the Council’s approach to working with local communities across the city, ensuring that cultural, sporting and leisure opportunities are integrated and accessible to all. She is responsible for ensuring that resident engagement is proactive and enabling, supports an inclusive economy and fulfils the Council’s statutory requirements.
Paula provides political leadership for the Council’s community partnerships and voluntary and community sector liaison, and for ensuring that Newcastle remains a safe, resilient and welcoming city for all. Paula is responsible for:
* Urban Green/parks, green spaces, allotments
* Play areas and leisure facilities
* Leisure Centre management
* Libraries and customer services
* Registrars, cemeteries, and crematorium services
* Taxi licensing
* The Newcastle Fund
* Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Compact and VCS liaison
* Crime, community safety and resilience planning
* Promoting good community relations and combatting hate crimes
* Community assets and asset transfers
* Neighbourhood devolution and parish councils
* Ward governance and budget
* Refugees and asylum seekers
* City of Sanctuary
* Veterans and the Armed Forces Family/Armed Forces Covenant, including Co-operative Council
Crime, community safety and resilience planning includes:
* Safe Newcastle Partnership
* Tackling antisocial behaviour
* Liaison with Northumbria Police
* Liaison with other crime and criminal justice partners
* Crime and policing panel
* CCTV policy
* Tackling modern slavery and human trafficking
Anya Durrant stepped down as a councilor in 2023.
Nationally, Kenton is incorporated into the Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency which is represented by Chi Onwurah.

## Schools

Kenton has four primary schools, as follows.
* Mountfield Primary
* St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Primary
* Wyndham Primary
* Kenton Bar Primary
Secondary education and Sixth Form is provided by Kenton School.