A bridal boutique has relocated to a building once home to a popular bakery empire after seeing business “crippled” by the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) expansion.

Beau Brides owner Linda Quayle decided to relocate from Bexley Village to Rochester High Street after she claims she lost 70% of her customers following the charging scheme’s latest roll-out last August.

The 56-year-old first opened her store near the Kent-London border in April 2019.

She sells a range of bridal gowns, bridesmaid and prom dresses, as well as offering one-to-one consultations and custom-made outfits by an in-house seamstress.

“I survived lockdown and the cost of living crisis,” Linda told KentOnline. “Then Sadiq Khan decides he's going to put a ULEZ camera right outside my shop.

“70% of the business went down straight away. I live in Walderslade so I thought, let's get closer to home.

“The ULEZ was crippling me. Then the store in Rochester became available and I just went for it.”

Bexley and Bromley, which were historically part of Kent but are now London boroughs, were included in the expanded ULEZ scheme on August 29.

It started in central London with the aim to improve air quality by deterring motorists, through a £12.50 charge, driving older more polluting cars into the zone.

Since it was introduced, hundreds of ULEZ cameras have been stolen or vandalised in protest.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the move to expand the scheme to all of London’s boroughs was “one of the toughest decisions” he'd taken but was necessary to address the capital's dirty air.

Linda has more than 30 years experience in the wedding industry and previously worked with dress companies like White Rose, Casablanca and Très Chic.

However, she says she fell into the job by chance.

“When I was at school, I wanted to be a social worker,” she explained. “I got pregnant at 16 and then married at 17. I had no time to go to college.

“I just happened to walk past a bridal shop – June Brides in Chatham High Street – they were looking to hire someone.

“I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but within six months I became a manager.”

The bridal boutique, located opposite Baggins Book Bazaar, was once home to the popular sweet-treat store, Cheran’s Bakery.

Run by entrepreneur Cheran Friedman, the county-wide chain had branches in Faversham, Canterbury, Maidstone, and Rochester.

However, on January 10, she announced they would all be closing with immediate effect except for the Sittingbourne store.

Linda says the building received a lot of attention once it went on the market – with around 14 other people putting offers in.

“It came online and within two minutes I emailed them and got it sorted,” she said.

“Shops hardly become available in that area and that was where I really wanted to be.

“We had a look, went for a coffee and within ten minutes the landlord had emailed me a proposal.”

The mum-of-three opened her new shop on Saturday, March 9 and says the response has been “amazing”.

She added: “The local businesses around me have been in to wish me luck. People pop in all the time to check in.

“It's really lovely. I'm really happy I made the decision to go here.

“I love my little shop. For five years I've been wanting to get to Rochester.”

More than four in every five vehicles already meet the emission standards but concerns have been raised that the expansion of ULEZ will continue to hit people on lower incomes harder as they are unable to replace older cars.

Click here to read more about the scheme and whether your vehicle is compliant.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson has been vocal in his opposition to the daily charge which he has branded an “unfair tax” on working people which “hits the poorest hardest”.

In December, Mr Johnson tabled a private members bill – a public bill introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers – in the hoping of reversing the decision.

It was debated in Parliament last Friday (March 22) after receiving government backing but is unlikely to now pass after being “talked out” by opposition Labour MPs who accused the Tories of “playing politics” and undermining devolution.

‘95% of vehicles seen driving on London’s roads are now compliant and don’t need to pay a penny.’

A spokesman for the mayor said: “The evidence shows that ULEZ is working. 95% of vehicles seen driving on London’s roads are now compliant and don’t need to pay a penny.

“Thousands of drivers have now received money to scrap their dirty vehicles, helping clean up London’s air and protect Londoners’ health.

“The mayor is clear that it’s up to other towns and cities to decide what works best locally for them.

“Central Government shouldn’t be dictating which clean air schemes are introduced in local areas – whether in Bermondsey, Birmingham, or Bristol.

“Ministers risk fundamentally undermining devolution if they start seizing powers from directly-elected Mayors – in London, the West Midlands or Tees Valley.

“If these plans become law it would be an unprecedented attack on devolution.”