A British shale pioneer said it was "disappointed but not surprised" a local council denied its permit to explore for oil and gas using hydraulic fracturing.

Lancashire County council members voted to refuse a permit to Cuadrilla Resources to use hydraulic fracturing in the Roseacre Wood site in the region. The members said the work would have "an unacceptable and potentially severe impact" on road infrastructure and traffic itself.

Cuadrilla in a statement said it was committed to exploring the area safely, noting it was considering an appeal to the council's decision.

"We are disappointed but not surprised that Lancashire County Council's development control committee has denied planning consent for our application at Roseacre Wood," the company said.

The company said its proposal included a traffic management plan as well as road improvements.

The British Environment Agency in February moved in favor of Cuadrilla's permits for operations in Lancashire. The company estimates there may be as much as 200 trillion cubic feet of shale natural gas in Lancashire.

"If we can unlock this shale gas potential it will help create jobs, generate economic growth, help fuel and heat local businesses and homes and boost local tax revenues for Lancashire," the company said.

Advocacy group Friends of the Earth said the council's decision was a "tremendous victory" for the region, but worried that "the fracking threat" still hangs over Lancashire because of pending decisions on another Cuadrilla site at Preston New Road.

The region's council said mid-June it recommended approval for a campaign with as many as four drilling sites and hydraulic fracturing. The recommendation was subject to restrictions ranging from hours of work to noise pollution.