I woke up one day with what I thought was a brainwave says independent by-election candidate Paul Gould

Paul Gould is an independent candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election and he’s got one issue on his mind.

Paul Gould, 61, is originally from Stockport but is now residing in New Brighton, Wirral after spending 23 years living in Australia.

Paul Gould is standing as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming by-election in Makerfield.

placeholder image — Paul Gould is standing as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming by-election in Makerfield.

He understands that the odds are stacked against him as an independent candidate of actually winning the Makerfield seat but he’s okay with that, the main issue that he’s focused on is The Peak Cluster Project.

This project is a major carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative designed to decarbonise cement and lime manufacturing. It aims to capture over 3 million tonnes of CO₂ annually from industrial sites. The captured CO₂ will then be transported through an underground pipeline system for permanent storage beneath the East Irish Sea.

Due to the planned route of the pipeline, The Peak Cluster Project will effect communities and landscapes across Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, and the Wirral Peninsula.

Paul wants the project to be scrapped in favour of softer environmental energy solutions, such as money to help with solar panel installation and electric car subsidies.

Paul said: “I woke up one day with what I thought was a brainwave, which was that somebody should run in the Makerfield by-election to draw attention to the situation more generally because there’s 12 pipelines planned throughout the country.”

This issue is not one that is specific to Makerfield as the pipeline will not run directly through the area, however, Paul argues that this is a national issue that could have a large environmental effect for all.

The proposed Peak Cluster carbon capture pipeline will be around 120 miles long and go underneath areas of greenbelt land.

Paul said: “The actual installation is disruptive because it’s quite a big pipe so you’ve got to lay a strip as wide as a road to begin with, there’s going to be compressor stations every few miles and it will have a 50 metre chimney right on the coastline.”

If approved, construction on the project could begin in 2029 and last until 2032. It is expected to cost £5bn and the government has already committed £28.6m to the project.

Paul has mentioned the issue to Makerfield residents while out canvassing and the response surprised him.

He said: “I was upfront with people about what I wanted to do and they were actually pretty positive, but obviously they realised that I’m not really going to be in the running to become the MP.”

On the hope of bringing awareness, Paul said: “I’m putting my own money up and I’m prepared to lose the money because its just me doing my bit and I have raised the profile of it, but I will have to look back after and see if I’ve made a difference or not.”

The by-election candidates are: Jake Austin (Liberal Democrats), Count Binface (Count Binface Party), Andy Burnham (Labour and Co-operative Party), Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party), John Dyer (independent), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Paul Gould (independent), Howling Laud Hope (Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Rob Kenyon (Reform UK), Robert Pownall (independent), Rebecca Shepherd (Restore Britain), Sarah Wakefield (Green Party), Peter Ward (Rejoin EU Bring in PR) and Michael Winstanley (Conservative).