Letter: The way the wind blows in Bronteland
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Your Diary columnist (18 February) comments on the eruption of wind turbines in the literary shrine of Bronteland. Unlike some of the 62 dignitaries reputed to have written to the Times Literary Supplement in objection to these beautiful, elegant and clean machines, I actually live in the area all year round.
Due mostly to its connection with the Bronte family, the small village of Haworth is descended upon by more than a million visitors each year. Most of them come in motor cars, polluting the clear moorland air and discarding their soft-drink cans and Bronte nougat wrappers everywhere. True, a tiny proportion of these visitors take to the moors to search for the inspiration reputed to have moved Emily, Charlotte, Anne and Bramwell to great literary outbursts. If they climb high enough, they might just catch a glimpse of a wind farm glinting silently in the far distance. However, they would have to choose a good, clear day, a not- too-frequent occurence in the Yorkshire climate.
In Haworth itself one wind turbine curiously dominates the village, but the Haworth seen by visitors today bears little resemblance to that the Bronte family knew during their tenancy at the parsonage.
Meanwhile, protests roll in because a new wind farm is planned that will be visible only by telescope from Haworth but will be seen a little more clearly from nearby Hebden Bridge, where a number of the 62 literary dignitaries have holiday addresses.
Yours sincerely,
GRAHAM SMOUT
Oakworth, West Yorkshire
18 February
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments