Labor representatives have come out swinging against plans to introduce weekend clearways on major arterial roads in busy inner west streets including King Street Newtown, Parramatta Road Stanmore and Sydenham Road, Marrickville.

Jo Haylen MP, Labor Member for Summer Hill, Clr Linda Scott City of Sydney Labor Councillor, and Labor’s candidate for the Stanmore ward, Anna York, have all condemned the move as a “business killer.”

The roads have been identified for further investigation of clearways as part of the State Government’s $121 million Sydney Clearways Strategy.

Clearways have been mooted by the State Government as part of the WestConnex project, as a means of mitigating the masses of extra traffic expected to hit Newtown as a result of the Berejiklian Government’s project.

Comments attributable to Jo Haylen MP, Member for Summer Hill:

“Clearways will close businesses, full stop. Once we’ve lost the vibrant and eclectic businesses along King Street we’ll never get them back.

“Small business is the heart and soul of King Street. They bring diversity, creativity and life to our suburb and must be protected.

The State Government is once again forcing top-down planning that fails our local community.”

Comments attributable to Clr Linda Scott, Labor Councillor at the City of Sydney

“When the Liberal State Government look at King Street, all they see is a road. As a Labor Councillor and local resident, I know King Street is a vital ecosystem that contributes so much to our City's culture and local economy. "

“Yet again, I call on the Liberal State Government to keep their hands off King St."

"Weekend clearways will obliterate King St and sap all the life out of Newtown. We can’t let them go ahead."

Comments attributable to Anna York, Labor candidate for Stanmore

“I will fight tooth and nail to stop any move towards extending clearways on King Street.

“Newtown is a destination, not a suburb you drive through to get in and out of the city.

“I’m on the side of local businesses and residents who love and will fight for our community.”