News

  • Petitioning for Change – An Open Letter to Andy Burnham

    Petitioning for Change – An Open Letter to Andy Burnham

    Dear Andy,

    I listened carefully to your recent speech outlining your vision for the future of our country and your ambition to create a stronger voice for the North.

    You spoke with conviction about reindustrialisation, protecting jobs and securing the future of British industry.

    Those are ambitions that many of us share.

    We believe Britain should manufacture, innovate and lead once again. We believe our industries deserve investment, our workers deserve security, and our communities deserve prosperity.

    However, reindustrialisation cannot come at the expense of ordinary people.

    It cannot mean families losing their homes, farmers losing their land, communities living alongside unnecessary industrial infrastructure, or irreversible damage to our countryside and wildlife. Economic growth should never require the sacrifice of the very people it is meant to serve.

    If Britain is to lead a new industrial revolution, it should be built around genuinely sustainable industries, modern manufacturing, green steel, renewable technologies and innovation that creates long-term prosperity while protecting our environment. It should not depend on extending the life of the fossil fuel industry through increasingly costly infrastructure that many communities neither want nor believe is the right solution.For too long, large corporations have had the loudest voice. They have the resources, the influence and the ability to shape policy in ways that ordinary people simply cannot. Yet it is communities that bear the consequences of those decisions.

    Now is the time to listen to the public.

    People want secure, affordable energy. They want well-paid jobs. They want investment in British industry. But they also want clean air, healthy ecosystems and confidence that decisions made today will leave a better legacy for future generations.

    Projects such as carbon capture and storage are often presented as essential to our future. Many of us see them differently. We see them as an attempt to prolong dependence on fossil fuels rather than accelerate the transition to genuinely clean energy. Britain has the opportunity to become a global leader in renewable energy, clean technology and sustainable manufacturing without placing unnecessary burdens on communities or the natural environment.

    When you speak of reindustrialisation, we ask that you champion a vision that puts people first.A vision that protects jobs without sacrificing communities.A vision that safeguards our environment while strengthening our economy.A vision that invests in industries of the future rather than prolonging those of the past.

    The North has always been the engine of British innovation. Let it now become the engine of Britain’s green future.

    We urge you to stand with the people, not simply those with the greatest financial influence, and help build an economy that delivers prosperity, energy security and environmental responsibility for generations to come.

    Thank you,

    AACCS, and our valued followers,

    On behalf of everyone in the UK and beyond.

  • Peak Cluster Responds to Justin Madders, MP

    On 30th April, 2026, Justin Madders, MP sent Peak Cluster an email, which we have included below (at the end of this article).

    A reply from Peak Cluster has now been received, and we have included this on the following link:

    Peak Cluster Response to Justin Madders MP

    See below for the email this was replying to.

    David Parkin
    Chair
    Peak Cluster
    Our Ref: EV/ZA73458
    30 April 2026

    Dear David,

    Further to the below response, which has been shared with all of our constituents who have contacted us regarding Peak Cluster, we have received responses from a number of our constituents outlining their further concerns with the project relating to details about international contributors to Peak Cluster.

    Constituents have attended events in person and online regarding Peak Cluster, including a webinar on 1 April and a community event at Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on 20 April, which were also attended by representatives from Peak Cluster. During these events, constituents report that Peak Cluster representatives confirmed that this project would involve CO2 being imported from the EU and further afield, and that Peak Cluster is receiving funding for this project from multiple overseas investors. We were surprised to hear about the potential importation of CO2 given the likely cost and practicalities of this but would be grateful for your comments on it.

    Constituents also raise concerns about the cost effectiveness of the project, highlighting that it is projected to cost up to £5 billion, but that the proportional amount of the UK’s CO2 emissions that would be affected by this project amount to between 1.5% and 0.6%, drawing attention to alternative technologies which are more affordable and efficient at removing CO2 from emissions. Compounding this point are concerns about how this project is being financed, and who would bear financial responsibility for ongoing maintenance of the pipeline. It has been stated by Peak Cluster that the onshore pipeline design life is around 40 years, which could be extended with proper maintenance. Our constituents are concerned that Peak Cluster will pass the financial burden for this maintenance to the taxpayer once the project has finished construction. Can Peak Cluster share at this stage who would bear financial responsibility for this ongoing maintenance and whether alternative methods of decarbonisation are possible?

    Longer term concerns have also been raised about when the depleted gas fields are full and sealed, regarding who bears financial responsibility for monitoring CO2 leakages conducting maintenance works, and are again concerned that Peak Cluster plan to pass this financial burden to taxpayers. Is Peak Cluster able to provide these details?

    Also, are Peak Cluster able to share what impact assessments or considerations have been made of the emissions, noise pollution, and light pollution that will be released as part of the construction and ongoing use and maintenance of the proposed AGIs and block valve stations, the size of which has also caused considerable concerns for nearby residents. Have Peak Cluster made any such considerations?

    Constituents are also raising concerns that they are witnessing what looks to be construction or surveying activity along the proposed pipeline route before the consultation process has ended or entered its second phase. Can Peak Cluster please confirm whether or not this activity is taking place on behalf of Peak Cluster?

    Also, constituents are eager to engage with the more detailed next stage of Peak Cluster’s consultation process, and wish for a timeframe for when this is expected to begin has been requested. Are Peak Cluster able to provide this timeframe?

    Yours sincerely,

    Office of Justin Madders MP”

    We have now received a response from David to our email which addresses each of the above concerns in turn. Please find David’s letter attached to this email.

    We would welcome your thoughts on his response and the details he provides. Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns to raise following David’s letter, as we expect to write back to Peak Cluster in the near future and certainly before the next stage of the consultation. We will ensure that any concerns you have to raise are included in our next email.

    Also, you may be aware that Justin recently participated in an adjournment debate in the House of Commons Chamber on 15 June regarding Carbon Capture Projects in Cheshire, in which Justin and several other members in the area raised concerns about the project, technology, and the consultation process. You can read the full transcript of the debate and Justin’s contributions here: Carbon Capture Pipeline Projects: Cheshire

    The Minister recognised that the National Wealth Fund, which is involved with Peak Cluster, is independent in the decisions it makes, and that his Department has made no funding decisions in respect of Peak Cluster. He confirmed that this project is independent of Government at this stage, and emphasised the importance of Peak Cluster’s clear and open engagement with communities throughout the entire process and that concerns must be heard and acted on. He also addressed issues of public safety in relation to Peak Cluster, which we know has been raised with us by many concerned constituents, and we trust that the comments and examples the Minister gives in his speech will offer some reassurance.

    We would welcome your comments on the above but please be assured we will continue engaging with all concerned constituents as extensively as possible for the duration of this project.

    Kind regards,

    Office of Justin Madders MP

  • Sky News – Carbon Pipelines: The new Net Zero

    View the video on Sky’s website

    On March 9th Sky News visited the Wirral to cover the Extraordinary General Meeting. Here they met local father and resident Chris Jolley.

    Information has since changed and the coordination between areas has increased. But this still highlights our plight and showcases the project on the national media stage.

    Action Against CCS will continue to push for further coverage of this story.

  • Express reports growing fury over Peak Cluster plans

    The Daily Express reported on mounting public anger surrounding the proposed Peak Cluster carbon capture pipeline, highlighting fears that large areas of Wirral countryside and coastline could be heavily impacted by the scheme. The article focused on concerns from residents, campaigners, and local politicians who believe the project could industrialise rural areas and damage wildlife habitats.

    Critics described the plans as turning Wirral into “England’s carbon dioxide exhaust pipe”, while also questioning the long-term safety and environmental consequences of transporting captured CO2 through densely populated areas. Supporters of the project continue to argue that carbon capture is necessary to help decarbonise the cement and lime industries and meet national climate targets.

    View the Original Article

  • ITV News explains growing opposition to Peak Cluster

    ITV News published a detailed explainer outlining the proposed Peak Cluster carbon capture pipeline and the growing concerns being raised by residents across Wirral and Cheshire. The project would transport captured carbon dioxide from cement and lime works in Derbyshire through a 160-mile pipeline to storage sites beneath the East Irish Sea, with major infrastructure planned near Meols and Hoylake.

    The report highlighted widespread public opposition centred around environmental impact, safety concerns, effects on wildlife and greenbelt land, and frustration over the consultation process. Thousands of residents have signed petitions against the project, while councillors from multiple political parties have criticised the plans and called for greater scrutiny. Supporters of the scheme argue it is essential for achieving UK net zero targets and protecting jobs in heavy industry.

    View the Original Article

  • West Kirby Live returns to support AACCS

    West Kirby Live is set to return this summer, with organisers confirming the music festival will once again help raise awareness and funds in opposition to the proposed Peak Cluster carbon capture pipeline. The event will take place across multiple venues in West Kirby and is expected to feature a range of local artists and community support.

    Organisers said they felt they had “no choice” but to continue campaigning against the project, which has generated significant local concern around environmental impact, industrialisation, and disruption along the proposed pipeline route. The festival aims to combine live music with activism, bringing together residents and campaign groups opposed to the development.

    View the Original Article