The following scenario is fictional, but based on real data. It outlines a proposal to develop a new oil and gas find beneath the sea off the coast of Britain.
The information could be used as it stands, or adapted to address issues relevant to the local area. Other characters could then be created for the roleplay.
Alternatively, having discussed the Burnbridge Project, pupils could look for examples of local developments which raise similar issues. This could form the basis of extended project work.
Burnbridge stands at the mouth of the River Burn in the north of England. The original medieval city developed into a thriving port and shipbuilding centre in the 19th century.
Its growth as a centre of industry was fuelled by the rich coal seams to the south, while the moorlands to the north have supported agriculture, mainly in the form of sheep farming, for many hundreds of years.
In more recent times, the decline of traditional industries has led to problems of unemployment. The city itself continues to be something of a tourist attraction, and St Cuthbert's Island which lies just off the coast is a famous bird sanctuary. However, the outlying areas of Burnbridge are suffering from urban degeneration.
Funding from the European Union has allowed some new industries, notable car manufacturing and electronics, to be established.
Now Transglobal Oil has announced a major find of oil and gas in the sea some 15 miles offshore of Burnbridge. Test drilling and surveys have revealed that the field will provide at least 150 million barrels of oil and one trillion cubic feet of gas. As a result it has been decided to invest £750 million in building offshore facilities, and £250 million in a processing terminal for the gas at Monk's Point.
The gas will be piped to the processing terminal at Monk's Point, and then to a new gas-fired station which is to be built inland at Stancaster.
Transglobal has two options for dealing with the oil, and has not yet decided which one it will choose.
The first is to pipe the oil to an offshore buoy located well away from major shipping lanes. Tankers will ten be sued as shuttles to carry oil from the buoy to refineries around Europe. Loading time for a tanker at the buoy will be about a week.
The second proposal is to construct a pipeline which will take the oil direct to an existing refinery.
The following exercise will help you think about the development from different people's point of view and come to your own decision about the proposals.
Key questions raised by the proposals are:
In pairs or groups consider the above key points and sort them into two headings:
The following people have submitted evidence to an official enquiry which will recommend EITHER that the development should go ahead OR that it should be dropped. The enquiry will also recommend which of the two options for dealing with the oil it prefers - the pipeline to the refinery or the buoy and tanker arrangement.
Read through he following role notes, and divide into groups of 8 or 9. Each member of the group should be assigned a character. The enquiry has three stages:
Prepare a pamphlet/leaflet or poster to help you put forward your character's point of view, and to use as an aid at the official enquiry.
Alternatively, work in pairs, taking it in turns to play a character from the list below and a local journalist. The journalist must interview the character and write a newspaper article or produce a radio script. (What sort of newspaper or radio station does the journalist work for? This will affect the way the story or script is written.)
Hold a public enquiry or televised debate. In turn , everyone gives their points of view, and explains why they think they plan should be accepted or rejected. They may also try to counter other people's points of view. Use your preparation work from stage one to help you present your case.
Set a time limit (5 mins max) for each speaker, and after each speech the chairman should allow some questions "from the floor" (you may wish to set a maximum of, say, 4 questions).
Conduct a whole class ballot either for or against the proposals. DON'T VOTE "IN ROLE". Vote as if you were an independent observer. Vote for the side which you think has presented the best case, and deserves your support.
James Watson
Is an employee of a motor car company in Burnbridge. He is 42 years old, and
will probably stay with the company till he retires. He is also a keen ornithologist.
/wgeb bit at work he enjoys walking and bird spotting along the estuary. He
is an active member of the RSPB and frequently leads parties on tours of St
Cuthbert's Island.
Christine Walker
Is a director of Transglobal Oil Ltd, the company who will be producing the
oil and gas. She has travelled the world with her work, and has helped to set
up oil and gas terminals in other countries. She is very well qualified to give
technical advice, and was responsible for commissioning an environmental impact
of the area, to anticipate any environmental problems and ensure that they are
minimised or eliminated.
Mike Bryant
Is an environmental scientist. He conducted the environmental impact assessment
and believes that the construction period and subsequent operation of the Burnbridge
project can be managed with the minimum of disruption to the environment. Detailed
plans have been drawn up to deal with any unforeseen incidents.
Steve and Elizabeth Jones
Are owners of a Caravan Park at Grimscar. Occupancy rates are high, and in the
high season the site is full. The local coastline, nearby beaches and moors
make this a popular site for main holidays and mini-breaks throughout the year.
The proposed gas terminal will be close to their caravan park.
Ann Osborne
Is a County Councillor and member of the Planning Committee with specific responsibility
for liaising with Transglobal. She has seen some high and low points. The run-down
of traditional industries such as shipbuilding and mining has made many redundant,
although funding from the European Union has helped create some new jobs. She
is keen to see the area prosper, but is also aware that tourism is a major source
of employment.
Thomas Sutton
Earns his living as a fisherman in the waters of Burnbridge Bay and estuary.
He specialises in catching and selling shellfish, for which clean, unpolluted
water is essential. He is concerned about existing pollution levels in the waters
of the Bay.
Karen Percival
Is the warden of St Cuthbert's Island, a bird sanctuary which is rated by the
Nature Conservancy Council as being of "of international importance". Karen
is currently engaged in a project to monitor the growth and conditions of the
local grey seal population resident off Grimscar Bank.
Gary Williams
Is a miner at Threlthorpe colliery. He lives near Burnbridge and travels daily
to work. Previously he worked in a mine closer to home, but this closed and
he was transferred to Threlthorpe. The long term future of this mine is also
in doubt. Redundancies have recently been announced. Gary does not wish to take
voluntary redundancy, and is too young to retire early. He has a young family
to support, and knows that alternative employment is scarce.
Alice Smith
Lives in the tiny coastal village of Lumley Bay to the east of Burnbridge. She
retired here five years ago after working for an insurance company in Leeds
for over thirty years. With its dramatic location and superb sea view, this
is her "dream home", and something for which she saved for many years. She also
fears that her pension would not be sufficient to cope with any general rise
in prices associated with the "oil boom".
Lynne Hopkins MP
Lynne is the local MP. Her mail bag contains many letters from constituents
who are worried about high unemployment levels in the city, and the decline
of the area in general. On a national level, she is concerned with creating
more wealth for the nation and with ensuring the supply of energy.
The Chairperson
You must familiarise yourself with everyone's point of view, and ensure a fair
debate takes place.