Chester Zoo has voiced strong opposition to a proposed carbon pipeline route that would cut through its grounds, with the zoo's chief executive calling the plan "unacceptable."
Jamie Christon, CEO of Chester Zoo, stated that the proposed pipeline, designed to transport carbon emissions to the coast, poses a significant threat to the irreplaceable habitats and ecosystems the zoo works to protect.
"We recognise development can be necessary and welcome progress on low-carbon infrastructure," Christon said. "However, we're against bad development that would damage the irreplaceable habitats and ecosystems we're all working so hard to protect. Once it's gone, it's gone forever."
Chester Zoo bosses first contacted the project developers, Peak Cluster, in March to express their concerns. A meeting with project leaders took place in May, during which the zoo requested a reconsideration of the proposed route. According to Christon, there has been no further contact from Peak Cluster since that meeting, leading him to believe no changes are planned.
Christon emphasized the need for a development path that benefits both people and nature. "The decarbonising industry should not come at the expense of nature," he stated. "We believe the regional environmental impacts of the Peak Cluster pipeline, as proposed, are unacceptable."
The zoo is urging Peak Cluster to engage in further discussions with the zoo, its neighbors on the Wirral, and other wildlife conservation organizations in the region. "We're calling on Peak Cluster to come to the table and engage with us, with our neighbours on the Wirral, and with others working to protect wildlife across the region," Christon added. Maze in Wirral, UK.