Mayor needs to check his facts

Apologies for the lateness of this letter, but have only just read the interview with James Palmer, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough about his plans for the future.

Mr Palmer was talking about community building: “Look at the example of this city of around 20,000 people 40 to 50 years ago. It was designated new town status” and then he pointed out what happened.

Mr Palmer needs to get his fact correct.

When the Passport Office opened in Peterborough in 1967 the population was approx 65,000.

Having checked the facts online with the assistance of the library, we discovered that in 1901 the population of the then city, not including outlying villages like Paston, Gunthorpe, was over 30,000.

Mr Palmer needs his facts checked before he opens his mouth.

His statements need taking with a very large pinch of salt.

In his opening campaign he declared that he had occasionally “come to Peterborough for football or shopping”.

Just to sort facts if Mr Palmer can be so wrong how can we be sure his current facts are correct? Jane Koe Peterborough Resident for 50 years and four months Reader of Evening Telegraph and successor Peterborough Telegraph