Minister for London Paul Scully said he’s been bombarded with letters from South Londoners fuming over TfL’s plan to expand the £12.50 a day Ultra-Low Emission Zone charge.

The Sutton and Cheam MP’s comments come a week after Sutton residents turned out in force at a council meeting to protest against the £12.50 charge for some cars being brought to their borough.

Mr Scully said the number of letters opposing the Transport for London expansion of the scheme is only increasing and it is one of the main topics in his weekly local surgeries.

The Conservative MP said: “I am absolutely going to carry on opposing it. In Sutton there are 28,000 non-compliant cars – if you look at why that is, it is because Sutton has had the least investment from TfL.

“With no Tube and no trams we are one of the worst connected boroughs in London, people rely on their cars.

“The people I hear from are appalled not just at the policy but at the way it is being pushed through with total disregard to the consultation.”

The Liberal Democrat leader of Sutton Council, Ruth Dombey, said she would be writing to Mr Scully to ask “what he’s going to do to stop this unfair charge on our residents”.

She said: “We have clearly stated we welcome initiatives that improve air quality but we are adamant that any expansion of ULEZ to Sutton must come with significant investment in public transport, better cycling and walking infrastructure, a fair and proper scrappage scheme and extension of the planned implementation date so people have sufficient time to make the necessary adaptations.

“The council cannot and will not support the expansion of the ULEZ scheme as it is currently proposed.”

Along with other outer London boroughs, Sutton Council has said it would not allow TfL to install the cameras necessary for the ULEZ charge to work.