CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the transfer of Wrexham's council houses have called for a line to be drawn under recent events.
After a bitter war of words between council leader Shan Wilkinson and Wrexham Against Stock Transfer (WASTe) chairman Chris Maher that raged for months, Mr Maher has urged politicians to put aside party politics to help Wrexham Council find the £274m it needs to bring its housing stock up to National Assembly standards.
He has also called for council chiefs to join forces with longtime opponent Dr John Marek in a bid to persuade the Assembly and the Government to change the rules on council borrowing.
'I'm very pleased with the result,' said Mr Maher. 'Having spoken to many tenants on their own doorsteps, it was clear they were worried about the security of their tenure and their rights if Tai Wrecsam took control.
'Having seen what happened when British Rail was privatised and the disaster that caused, I'm glad that Wrexham tenants have resisted any efforts to privatise their homes.
'The blackmail clearly did not work, but now is the time to bury any differences.
'The council need to join Dr Marek and WASTe in leading a delegation to the Assembly to create a level playing field and allow Wrexham Council to borrow the same amount of money as Tai Wrecsam.'
Dr Marek said: 'I am glad that Wrexham council house tenants have seen sense and voted against this. It was not the way forward.
'The history of stock transfer shows that rents go up and that an element of democracy is lost.
'My ability to represent tenants would have been diminished because it is almost impossible to intervene in the affairs of a private company.
'Whatever has been said in the past, I am asking Shan Wilkinson to join me in changing the rules so that Wrexham Council can get access to money to bring the houses up to scratch.
'The Assembly cannot say that the houses must be modernised by 2014 and then not provide the financial means to do so.'
