As we report in another news story today, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors believe that house prices will fall because of ‘congestion charging’ but this is only the tip of a large financial iceberg just waiting to hit the city, say some experts.

From next Monday, people driving into central London on weekdays will have to pay a daily charge of £5. Anyone who drives in without paying will be fined £80. The controversial scheme is being introduced by London mayor Ken Livingstone as a response to frustration-spawning gridlock that has dropped traffic speeds in the capital to below three miles per hour.

Predictions are for the retail and leisure sector to be the first to suffer from this modern-day Robin ‘Ken’ Hood. Although customers may not drive through the charging zone to get to shops or restaurants, delivery drivers will – and they are likely to pass on the cost of the charge to the retailers.

Even before the charges are introduced some service businesses have added up to £4 an order, even though they may visit the zone only once for several orders.

A whole raft of services will be affected and most will have to pass it on. Office cleaners, florists delivering to offices and hotels, food deliveries to restaurants –almost every small business will be passing on the charges.

It’s not all going upward though. Inside the zone NCP has more than 30 car parks and at the most expensive drivers are charged £54 a day. From 17 February, the all-day rate will be reduced to £39 and drivers can get a further £5 discount voucher from NCP's website.

Charges at car parks just outside the zone are not expected to rise yet say NCP, but price is always by demand.

Other businesses are planning to offer vouchers and refund schemes too, but whichever way you look at it, Ken’s highway robbery will sting. And there’s no guarantee that the reduction in congestion will improve the business profitability by anything like the same amount. Ultimately it’s what Ken does with the money that will count.