LANCASHIRE county councillors yesterday deferred decisions on two controversial bids to ‘frack’ for shale gas in the West of the county.

But green campaigners, who mounted a demonstration outside County Hall in Preston, expressed disappointment at the delay.

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They stressed the importance of keeping up pressure on politicians to refuse permission for the drilling.

Lancashire County Council’s Development Control Committee agreed to defer their decision on planning applications for sites at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood near Blackpool submitted by energy firm Cuedrilla.

Council officers had recommended refusal on noise and traffic grounds.

The decisions will have implications for East Lancashire. The British Geological Survey has identified the M65 Corridor from Blackburn through to Colne as sitting on major shale gas resources.

More than 60 opponents of fracking attended a public meeting in the Central Methodist Church Hall in Burnley on Tuesday.

One of its organisers, Keep East Lancashire Frack Free spokesman David Penney said: “I am disappointed at the delay. It is vital we keep up our campaign to ensure the councillors consider the key environmental issues and refuse this application.”

Hyndburn Green party election candidate Kerry Gormley , one of the County Hall protestors, said: “This is what I expected. It’s crucial East Lancashire campaigners keep up the pressure on the councillors.”

Accrington West county councillor Munsif Dad, who chairs the committee, said: “We heard legal advice that supported the request for deferral.

“We will reconvene as soon as we can to consider the decisions in light of the new information.”

A statement from Cuadrilla said: “The additional information we have provided will fully address the noise and traffic concerns raised. We remain committed to the exploration of shale gas in Lancashire.”

At the Burnley meeting, Barton Moss activist Katrina Lawrie, said: “The 74,000 jobs the fracking industry claim they will create is misleading. The jobs are short-term and will have no long-term benefits.” to communities in Lancashire. We have to fight and we have to win.”

Tina-Louise Rothery, Green candidate against Chancellor George Osbourne inTatton, said: “The politicians are ignoring us. Sadly, it really is just down to small number of them with a great deal of power.”

Blackburn Labour MP Jack Straw and his Burnley Liberal Democrat counterpart Gordon Birtwistle both welcomed the deferral and said they supported fracking in East Lancashire.