A scout leader from Bromley has criticized the proposed expansions of the ULEZ scheme, explaining that “it’s going to cost £25 every week to take the children to camps.”

Hundreds of protesters descended on London Bridge today as they fought against expansion plans of Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ).

Labour mayor Sadiq Khan intends to expand the capital’s ultra-low emission zone to cover the entirety of outer London.

John Hemming-Clark, a scout leader for 12 years, said it will cost him £25 to now take a group of children away camping at weekends in his car.

The 63-year-old told the PA news agency: “I’m a scout leader and I have a 10-year-old car, it’s going to cost me £25 every week to take the children to camps.

“Why I think it’s so unjust is because Sadiq Khan’s manifesto had no mention of this, there’s real hardships in the likes of Bromley and people need their cars to see relatives or go to the hospital.

“Central London is one thing but Khan introducing ULEZ to outer London unopposed is another.

“At the moment, we have local protests but if this does go ahead and people realise this does affect the wider population, God knows what will happen.”

Last month, a High Court judge decided five Conservative-led councils could challenge the plan – including Bexley and Bromley.

If the scheme goes ahead, the ULEZ expansion will see drivers in outer London pay a £12.50 daily fee from August 29 if their vehicles do not meet required emissions standards.

Hundreds had their say as they halted traffic driving across the city centre bridge in a bid to prevent plans to expand the ULEX reach to the whole of London.

Bells and whistles sounded out as the protesters marched back and forth over the bridge, with the group chanting “get Khan out”.

Speaking after the release of his new book, Breathe: Tackling The Climate Emergency, on Friday, Mr Khan said: “My mum’s got asthma, she’s 82 (and lives nearby), I’ve got two children, 23 and 21, but I’ve also got nephews and nieces, neighbours and friends.

“Members of my family could get dementia, heart disease or cancer directly attributable to the poor-quality air. So, of course, there’s a self interest in relation to the impact on me, my family and friends.”

Despite Mr Khan’s argument that ULEZ has been introduced to help with air quality, protesters refuted those claims.