The families of Bebe King, Elsie Stancombe and Alice Aguiar will take a leading role in shaping the renovation of Southport’s Town Hall Gardens as a thank you to the community who have supported them. 

The renovation will see the Town Hall Gardens, which became a beacon of support and solidarity in Southport last year, become an inclusive community-focused events space in the heart of Southport Town Centre. 

In a meeting with the families today (10 June), the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister expressed their full support for the project and pledged £5 million for its development. This government funding will be matched by £2.5 million each from Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), bringing the total investment to £10 million.  

Once complete, the space will be a vibrant, family-friendly destination – hosting open-air performances, markets, and community events – while also offering a unifying setting where people can come together to remember and reflect.  

The families of Alice Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Stancombe said:

This project is a vision we have all shared for some time, which is rooted in love, resilience and unity. We wanted to find a way to thank the people of Southport for standing shoulder to shoulder with us. Your compassion has never wavered and your strength has helped carry us forward.

The regeneration of the Town Hall Gardens will become a legacy inspired by our three beautiful and amazing girls and it will be a space that is loved by many generations to come. It will be a place of joy, hope and community. A vibrant place where children and families can feel safe, connected and celebrated in the heart of our town.

We are grateful to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, to Sefton Council and to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and each of the region’s Councils, for listening to our voices and helping us achieve the funding we need for this project. This is only the beginning, and we all walk forward together with our amazing community in Southport, with purpose and hope.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, said:

The strength of everyone in Southport has been beyond words and I am delighted that we are able to help with the families’ vision to give back to that amazing community, who continue to give everything they can to those families and victims.

We are committing £5 million to help create a safe community space for connection, reflection, and renewal – a lasting symbol of hope, guided by the strength of the families and wider community.”  

Sefton Council will lead the delivery of the project, working in partnership with the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, and the LCRCA. Further details on next steps will be announced in due course.