This is a group for site members to exchange ideas and express opinions about wind turbines in Saline Parish. This discussion is open to all residents of Saline Parish.

GUIDELINES:

1) All contributors should familiarise themselves with the Code of Conduct which can be found in the navigation column on the Home page (www.salinesteelend.org/home/code-of-conduct ).

2) It would be helpful if contributors would introduce themselves - in particular stating whether they are entering this debate with strong opinions for, or against, wind turbines; and declaring any vested interest in the topic one way or the other.

3) The forum is intended to benefit residents of communities within Saline Parish, and therefore discussion should be limited to turbines and turbine-applications within (or immediately adjacent to) Saline Parish boundaries. This is not intended to be a discussion about wind turbines in general, but about those in our ‘back yard’.

4) Whilst a lively, passionate discussion is the soul of any forum, contributors might like to consider that the most important people in this context are those who are undecided about the topic in question, and may be observing from the sidelines. Encouraging the undecided to participate should be an important goal for anyone wishing to win hearts and minds to their point of view, and I would suggest that posts written in anger are likely to be self-defeating in this regard. Facts (citing sources, wherever possible) and reasoned argument are more likely to encourage new contributors than clever put-downs.

Researchers say microturbines could kill thousands of bats and birds/BBC

HAMISH PARK