British advocacy group calls for refusal of a shale gas drilling permit, saying company behind the plans is manipulating local leaders. UPI/Kevin Dietsch Members of the Lancashire County Council agreed to hold off a final decision on planning applications for hydraulic fracturing submitted by shale gas pioneer Cuadrilla Resources. Cuadrilla asked for a delay after the council last week suggested it would deny the permit because of noise pollution concerns. Helen Rimmer, a campaigner with the British Friends of the Earth, said the council should listen to the chorus of voices expressing opposition to fracking. “Lancashire council must resist Cuadrilla’s ploys to push fracking through and listen to the tens of thousands of voices of opposition and reject these plans,” she said in a statement. “Failure to do so will leave Lancashire as the UK’s guinea pig for this unnecessary and polluting technology.” Cuadrilla, which estimates the region may […]