Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

IN London, on:- 10 June 2025, the Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged £5 million in Government support towards the £10 million redevelopment of Southport's Town Hall Gardens. The commitment follows a meeting held earlier today at 10 Downing Street with the families of Elsie, Alice, and Bebe, the 3 young girls whose tragic deaths deeply impacted the community.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister discussed the ongoing transformation of the gardens outside the Atkinson Arts Centre, in Southport, Merseyside. The redevelopment project, which has already begun, is inspired by the girls' love of the arts and aims to serve both as a public memorial and a lasting expression of gratitude to the Southport community for its resilience and solidarity.

The new public square is envisioned as a cultural hub that will incorporate artistic features reflecting the creativity and passions of Elsie, Alice, and Bebe. Designed to be a space for:- reflection, remembrance, and community engagement, the gardens are expected to become a central venue for local events and performances.

Funding for the project is being shared among multiple stakeholders. In addition to the Government's £5 million pledge, Sefton Borough Council has contributed £2.5 million, with additional support already been given from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Prime Minister Starmer has siad:- "This project is about honouring the memory of 3 beloved girls and creating a space that fosters:- healing, unity, and cultural pride."

The families of the victims have been closely involved in shaping the vision for the site, advocating for a space that not only memorializes their daughters, but also brings the community together through art and shared experience. Local residents and arts organisations have been invited to contribute to the final design.

Labour Party officials describe the initiative as a reflection of the party's broader commitment to community led cultural renewal and investment in public spaces.

The Town Hall Gardens project follows the devastating events of 29 July 2024, when a tragedy at the Hart Space dance studio claimed the lives of the 3 young girls. Southport continues to heal from the incident, and for many residents, today's announcement is a meaningful step forward.

However, the sense of progress has been tempered by heartbreaking international news. As the funding pledge was announced, reports emerged of a School shooting in Graz, Austria. In response, members of the Southport community expressed their solidarity with those affected.

This is a copy of the PM's remarks in the Downing Street meeting with the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Aguiar. Sir Keir Starmer said:- “Let me just start by saying thank you so much for coming in, and you're very welcome. I know you've got some plans that you want to show us, so we're very much looking forward to seeing those plans, to honour Bebe, Alice and Elsie. I know that the plan is very much developing on the idea of the gardens in a very special way, and so we're looking forward to seeing that. There’s already the prospect of some funding to go towards the gardens to make them exactly as you want them. And as a proper honour to the three girls, I'm really pleased to tell you today that the government will make up the rest of the money, so that as from today, you know that this project is secure and will go ahead. Thank you for coming to show us the plans. Thank you for your continued courage and resilience. As I've said to you all a number of times, I think most people in the country would say they wouldn't know how to deal with the situation, but you've shown courage and resilience and come forward with these plans, which will then be a great honour and an incredible thing for so many people and for children as they make use of the gardens, which is a wonderful thing to do. So, thank you very much for that. And also, we sit here as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, but we sit here as human beings with families of our own. And we sit here on behalf of millions of people who would love to see the plans and to say well done for bringing them forward and getting to this point. So through us, the thanks of millions of people in this country. I know there’ll be a sense that all of us, alongside you, will want to see these plans. I think when they understand the concept of what you’re doing here, I think they’ll be really moved and touched by it. So thank you."

“As a Town that has lived through unimaginable grief, we hope the people of Graz can find strength in one another, as we have,” said a Southport Mother, adding:- "Our hearts are with them tonight, just as the world stood with us in our darkest hour."