Macclesfield residents have called for the Peak Cluster pipeline plans to be scrapped.

Dozens of protestors gathered opposite Macclesfield railway station on Sunday, June 29, to make their voices heard over plans to build a 121-mile CO2 pipeline from the Peak District to the Irish Sea.

The 'No Peak Cluster CO2 Pipeline Cheshire Borderlands' group claim that such a project would destroy a 40m wide, 20 mile long corridor of 'biologically functional wildlife' from Lyme Park, through Pott Shrigley and the surroundings of Macclesfield, through to Holmes Chapel.

Furthermore, they feel the placement of a 'high-intensity above ground installation' near Gawsworth will 'severely disrupt general life'.

A spokesperson said: "People are very concerned, and rightly so. In some instances, they are planned to be situated within 50 metres of populated areas.

"There would be a level of risk to the tourist industry of Cheshire East as rural areas suffer a loss of rural identity.

"Further, CO2 is a high-risk gas when released in high quantities, and thus any rupture would produce an immediate risk to the population, and that risk of course is not zero, and anyone who tries to tell you it is, is inaccurate."

Councillors Alison Rodwell and Sue Adams were among those to take part in the protest (Credit: Julia Latham Photography)

advertisement

The spokesperson added: "Once again, like the planned Adlington New Town, this is a case of transferring the negative effects associated with a lower-cost, 'easy fix' solution to CO2 emissions to the population.

"It is one of the most profitable forms of CO2 transport, and that profit will not be transferred to anyone in Cheshire East. In fact, there are strong arguments to support that the project will result in significant loss to most of Cheshire East's population.

" It is also unnecessary. There are other forms of CO2 transport that don't result in the same loss of function due to high-maintenance and high-risk pipelines.

"This is being pursued because of profit to big corporations and the planned storage of European CO2.

"It's very sad to see our communities faced with paying the price for all this - and we must fight."

Laura Beveridge-Muircroft, chair of Action Against Carbon Capture and Storage, added: "From one residents meeting to a regional movement; what began as a a single residents meeting in February 2026 has grown to a co-ordinated community movement spanning the Peak District, Wirral and now Cheshire East.

"United by our commitment to evidence, transparency and informed public debate, communities have come together to ensure their voices are heard in the fight against the Peak Cluster pipeline.

"The sense of community was palpable as people from all areas affected stood together to demonstrate our feelings."

advertisement