Protesters vow to keep on fight to prevent fracking in North Yorkshire

Protesters have said they will fight a decision to allow a controversial fracking operation in North Yorkshire.

Demonstrators who listened to county councillors approve the application by UK firm Third Energy to frack for shale gas at an existing drilling site near the village of Kirby Misperton, between Malton and Pickering, described the outcome as "deeply disappointing".

But they said they would continue to campaign to prevent widespread fracking across Ryedale, Yorkshire and the UK.

Donna Hume, a Friends of the Earth campaigner, said they will do everything they can to stop the operation going ahead.

She said: "It's a deeply disappointing decision by the council to approve fracking against the overwhelming wishes of the local people here.

"Fracking is not what we need, it's incredibly risky for people's health, for the environment and, of course, in causing more climate change.

"We will be looking very closely at this decision, looking to see if there are any grounds to challenge it, but certainly we will be continuing to fight against fracking. We will be working with the community here to try to do everything we can peacefully to stop this going ahead."

Simon Bowen, Yorkshire and Humber campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said the councillors who approved the application would see the consequences at the next council elections.

He added: "We want the people involved to feel that they can stop the fracking industry and we know that they can because we've seen the growth of the movement over the last few months."

Di Keal, a Ryedale District Councillor, described the decision as "shocking and frankly outrageous" and said North Yorkshire County Council had "trampled on" the views of local people and "granted permission to a company that wants to industrialise Ryedale".

She said: "This is not however the end of the matter. Campaigners against this hugely damaging industry will continue the fight to prevent widespread fracking across Ryedale, Yorkshire and across the UK."

Local resident Sue Gough, from Little Barugh, near Kirby Misperton, said she hoped the committee members would realise the impact of their decision on generations to come.

She said: "We have fought and will continue to fight fracking for the sake of our children, grandchildren, and future generations."

Daisy Sands, Greenpeace's head of energy campaign added: "This isn't over and people will continue to raise their very valid concerns and keep fighting against fracking because it will industrialise the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and contribute to climate change."

Councillor Andrew Cooper, a spokesman for the Green Party, said the people of Kirby Misperton had been let down by North Yorkshire County Council.

He said: "The Green Party will continue to stand by local communities under threat from fracking operations and we will strongly oppose any attempts by central government to impose fracking against the will of local people."

Hundreds of campaigners carried out a peaceful protest in the grounds of County Hall, in Northallerton, where the meeting took place over two days.

They booed and jeered as the result was announced and shouted "shame on you" and "you will be held accountable".

Speaking to the crowd, one protester said: "We remain opposed to fracking in Yorkshire, in Britain and across the world.

"We know fracking carries serious risks to local people, to our health, our water and our wildlife."

She added: "This decision is not in our name."