I AM writing in response to The Journal's story 'Estate's hell-hole for sale?' (April 18 1996), which referred to a possible sell off of homes in Melrose Avenue and Whalley Grove area of Leigh.

Sister Josefa professes to be an intelligent woman, but fails to see that she herself has done nothing to help the image of this estate in the past.

Since she has been a resident of Whalley Grove, she has taken every opportunity (whilst blowing her own trumpet in the local newspapers) to portray the estate as a "ghetto" housing illiterate criminals who know no better.

If the council have been guilty of purposely running down the estate in order to clear the way for a sell off, as Sister Josefa claims, then she has SURELY been an ally. Is it any wonder that no one wants to take up tenancies in this area?

(name and address supplied)

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