ANTI-third runway campaigners fear airport owner BAA's decision to hand over £230 million to help pay for London's new rail line means a deal to grant permission for R3 has been struck.
Those who have fought the plan for further expansion at Heathrow say BAA's contribution to Crossrail is suspicious given how close the Government is to announcing whether it supports a third runway or not.
Geraldine Nicholson, the chairwoman of NoTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group), said: "At the very least questions need to be asked what payback BAA may be getting in return for this donation.
"£230 million may only be a small part of the total cost of Crossrail which is expected to reach £16 billion, but it is money that a company like BAA with huge debts can ill-afford unless it has been promised something very good in return."
John Stewart, chairman of the campaign group HACAN, added: "The very fact that we are even asking these questions shows just how low the reputation of both BAA and the Department for Transport has sunk. Both organisations have lost the confidence of people at large."
