CAMPAIGNERS have spoken out against an “outrageous” decision to refuse over 100 people entry to a council meeting.

Around 150 people gathered outside Ryedale District Council’s chambers on Thursday night, but only 30 were let in for which officers claimed was due to health and safety reasons.

At the meeting, held at Ryedale House, councillors discussed whether to employ planning experts to reject or amend future fracking planning applications.

Anti-fracking protestors and representatives of Ryedale Against Anti-Social Protestors (RAAP) were among the crowds.

Councillor Di Keal said: “The exclusion of people who tried to attend the meeting was disgraceful. They simply wanted to exercise their democratic right to listen to the debate.

“Some people had waited for several hours to gain entry only to be told they couldn’t unless they were selected in raffle of seats. It was simply outrageous and made a mockery of local democracy.”