WE are very grateful to the Okehampton Times for its coverage of the highly controversial experimental power station proposal for Winkleigh over the past three years by publishing articles and letters with views from both sides so that readers could make up their own minds. When the WINBEG scheme was initially announced in April 2003, very few people gave us much of a chance of stopping it, as it appeared to tick so many government boxes and targets. That we have been able to continuously peel away the layers of ?spin? and unearth key facts has been due to a remarkable amount of work by hundreds of people living not only in and around Winkleigh but well beyond. The amount of time spent researching a range of subjects, writing letters, fund raising, lobbying etc, has been considerable. While it has at times been very frustrating for people and families, it has been terrific that the communities around Winkleigh have been united in their opposition to a scheme that would cause immense environmental damage and blight many people?s lives. Serious questions, though, must be asked about the behaviour of the DTI and the South West RDA. Despite assurances from the then Energy Minister, Stephen Timms, that no public money would be given to the experimental scheme prior to planning approval, this turned out not to be true as the RDA was helping to fund the scheme. On the positive side, several agencies and organisations have been very helpful and we are very grateful to a number of ?whistleblowers? who have helped us during our long campaign. Peninsula Power has stated that it will appeal. However, as more and more has come out about this ill conceived out of scale proposal, surely it is now time that the government pulled the plug on this Emperor?s New Clothes scheme? WINBEG is holding back the cause of genuine renewable energy projects. David Lausen Chairman Winkleigh Society Torrington Road Winkleigh