Cheshire East wants more information before responding to the consultation on the controversial Peak Cluster despite objectors' claims the CO2 pipeline proposal would make local residents 'the net-zero guinea pigs of Europe'.

Campaigners were angered that the corporate policy committee on Thursday (April 30) hadn't taken the stance of councils like Wirral and Derbyshire, which have urged the government to reject the multi-million-pound decarbonisation project.

Some told councillors after the vote, they would lose their seats at next year's elections.

The controversial proposal aims to capture harmful carbon dioxide from cement and lime plants in Derbyshire and Staffordshire and transfer it by pipeline to a storage facility under the Irish Sea.

The preferred route has not yet been decided but the suggested 121-mile underground pipeline would pass through parts of Cheshire.

Cllr Sam Corcoran (Sandbach, Lab), speaking as a visiting councillor, said he could not understand why any environmental group would be against the idea of carbon capture and storage.

"Three million tonnes a year of CO2 currently being pumped into the air will be captured and stored by this project," he said.

This prompted some members of the public to call out with one saying: "Can I just say the public gallery is very much against the pipeline."

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Disley councillor Sue Adams (Con) said the phase one consultation with Peak Cluster had been 'woefully inadequate' and they hadn't been able to answer concerns raised by residents, 'despite working on the project for six years'.

The Conservatives put forward an amendment that because this scheme would have such an impact across the borough, there should be a debate at full council rather than a report going straight to cabinet.

But Cllr Fiona Wilson (Macclesfield, Lab) said the key people who needed to be involved in the consultation were the public.

She said: "We've got a process in place. It can go to cabinet. Members of the public can come to cabinet, councillors can go to cabinet."

She added: "We haven't got the information here to make an informed decision on behalf of the residents of Cheshire East and the businesses of Cheshire East, the council and the parish and town councils of Cheshire East."

The council's officers said it might be difficult to get it to full council because the timeframe was set by the government, which would be making the decision on the project.

There was then another outburst from the public gallery – this time from Gawsworth councillor Lesley Smetham (Con) whose ward will be hugely impacted by the above ground installations.

"Three councils have already refused it," she said. "Take that into account, about the signals that are coming to me from out there [protesters outside]."

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Council leader Nick Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) said: "There's 418,000 residents in Cheshire East and they've all got a right to participate in this consultation."

Deputy leader Michael Gorman (Wilmslow, Ind) said the project needed to be put under the microscope and there were many concerns which needed answering, including the route, environmental concerns and health and safety.

He added: "We have to make sure, with this, that Peak Cluster are invited to pay for proper and extensive consultation to residents, businesses, town and parish councils, members, and even the prospect of a citizens assembly here to really get to grips with this."

Councillors agreed officers should seek the feedback of members, town and parish councils and carry out further investigatory assessment and analysis on a number of aspects including the proposed route, negative impacts on Cheshire East and health and safety concerns.

A further report would then be presented to cabinet to form part of the next consultation.

The vote was eight in favour, with four councillors abstaining.