FRUSTRATED anti-fracking demonstrators staged a sit-down protest at a full Ryedale District Council meeting, after councillors voted not to debate a county council mineral plan.

The meeting was attended by almost 100 demonstrators, who filled the public gallery. The key reason for their attendance was a proposal by Cllr Paul Andrews to employ specialist consultants to examine the county council’s mineral and waste plan, which covers policies on mining, quarrying, waste disposal - and fracking.

Cllr Andrews had previously said he wanted Ryedale exempt from this plan.

However, the council had already debated the idea of employing the consultants in July, and due to council rules, it could not be discussed again within six months without full council approval.

Cllr Andrews attempted to win council approval by saying that the authority had already declared its opposition to fracking. “I’m simply asking the council to put its money where its mouth is,” he said. “I want to see consultants appointed so they can get the best deal possible.”

The council rejected his motion by 17 votes to nine, with several stating that overturning the principle of the six-month rule would set an unwelcome precedent.

This prompted anger among the anti-fracking demonstrators, who moved in and occupied the central area of the council chamber. A period of slight confusion and two adjournments followed.

The stalemate ended when Cllr John Clark mediated a compromise, which he said would see the council debate the issue in the coming weeks at an extra-ordinary meeting. “You’ve made your point,” he said to protesters. “This needs to be debated. It needs to be discussed.”

Chairman, Cllr William Oxley, said: “I’m going to make that commitment. The meeting will take place in the near future.”

The meeting was then allowed to continue.

One of the protesters, Leigh Coghill, said afterwards they had been frustrated by “technicalities and red tape”.

“This is a beautiful agricultural area, and it’s their job to protect it,” she said. “We can’t stand by and wait for weeks or months because that’s what the rulebook says.

“I’m not thrilled, far from it, but I feel that the council heard us.

“Ryedale District Council is anti-fracking - they made that commitment. But if this council are against fracking, they need to step it up.”