GAS company Third Energy is "studying" the decision by Ryedale District Council (RDC) to object to fracking at Kirby Misperton.

The vote was taken in a packed council chamber, including about 100 anti-fracking protestors, last week.

The planning committee voted on a motion by Councillor Fiona Farnell to object to the proposal. It was carried with seven votes for, one abstention and two against - though it is thought these were the result of pushing incorrect buttons.

However, a spokesman for applicants Third Energy said the decision went against the advice of the council's own officers. "Third Energy notes the committee report written by the case officer at RDC concluded there were no planning grounds for objecting to our application to hydraulically fracture the existing KM8 well," he said.

"The case officer’s committee report did propose some stringent planning conditions that were acceptable to Third Energy.

"We are now studying the vote by the RDC planning committee, contrary to the advice of their own officer, to understand if any material planning issues were raised in the objection to our application."

Although RDC is just consultees in the decision, with the ultimate arbiters being the North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), there were loud cheers in the chamber when the committee voted to recommend rejection.

The council voted after a lengthy period of questions and debate, with statements by people both against and for fracking, including Third Energy's operations director John Dewer.

Frank Colenso, one of the anti-fracking protestors, said: "The whole process is pretty undemocratic, the way the Government is trying to drive it through. It was very brave of the councillors. They've taken a lot of time to consider the issues and to fully understand it. It's a very good decision for Ryedale."

Lorraine Allanson, a resident who gave a pro-fracking statement at the meeting, said: "It's not unexpected. But the council are only a consultee, and there are a lot of consultees involved with the whole application.

"If this industry developed we could actually train youngsters, there would be high paying jobs. They could look forward to remaining living in this area. This area is one of the worst in the country for earning the living wage. That's nothing to be proud of.

"A lot of people who are objecting are quite mature, but we need to think of the young people, to give them opportunities here."

The next stage in the application will be the decision by the county council's mineral planning authority.

A spokesman for the county council said: "The county council has applied for an extension until April 29 for determination but must now consider all the responses to decide whether we have sufficient information for a determination report."

Another high profile consultee, Malton Town Council, also voted to object to the application this week.

A spokesman for Malton Town Council said: "The council had sufficient concerns about unanswered questions to recommend that the application not be approved."

They added that the council also had concerns about the impact of fracking visually and environmentally, as well as its effect on the tourism economy in the area.