The move came as Lancashire County Council was forced to delay a decision on two proposed new fracking sites for at least eight weeks to consider new information from a shale company facing the prospect of its applications being turned down.
In a week when the Government promised an outright ban on fracking in national parks and accepted Labour moves to set "necessary conditions" restricting the shale industry as it faced down calls for a UK moratorium, public opposition continues to outstrip support.
A new online survey of 1,000 people found that two fifths (40%) were against fracking, while a quarter (25%) were in favour of it going ahead in the UK.
Around one in 10 (11%) were happy for fracking to go ahead but "not in my backyard", while almost a quarter (24%) did not know whether it should happen in the UK, the poll by Usurv revealed.
Almost half of those questioned in the North West (45%), where much of the shale gas resources are thought to be, said they were against it going ahead, with just 22% in favour of it, and 13% saying it could happen but not in their backyard.
And in Scotland just 15% of people thought fracking should go ahead, while 54% were against it, and less than 8% were happy for it to happen elsewhere.
Environmental campaigners had called on the Scottish Government to rule out hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", for shale gas after the move to introduce a UK-wide moratorium was heavily defeated at Westminster.
Holyrood currently has control over planning, with powers over onshore oil and gas licensing and mineral access rights due to be transferred as part of the Smith Commission agreement on further devolution.
A new online survey of 1,000 people found that two fifths (40%) were against fracking, while a quarter (25%) were in favour of it going ahead in the UK.
Around one in 10 (11%) were happy for fracking to go ahead but "not in my backyard", while almost a quarter (24%) did not know whether it should happen in the UK, the poll by Usurv revealed.
Almost half of those questioned in the North West (45%), where much of the shale gas resources are thought to be, said they were against it going ahead, with just 22% in favour of it, and 13% saying it could happen but not in their backyard.
And in Scotland just 15% of people thought fracking should go ahead, while 54% were against it, and less than 8% were happy for it to happen elsewhere.
Environmental campaigners had called on the Scottish Government to rule out hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", for shale gas after the move to introduce a UK-wide moratorium was heavily defeated at Westminster.
Holyrood currently has control over planning, with powers over onshore oil and gas licensing and mineral access rights due to be transferred as part of the Smith Commission agreement on further devolution.
