A £10m regeneration project backed by the families of murdered schoolgirls Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar will see new ‘family-friendly’ space created in Southport. Tony McDonough reports

Southport’s historic Town Hall gardens will be transformed in a £10m project led by the families of murdered schoolgirls Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar.

With £5m from the Government, and £2.5m each from Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the gardens will be the location for a new open-air performance and gathering space.

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”.

Bebe, Elsie and Alice died on July 29, 2024, when 17-year-old killer Axel Rudakubana entered the Hart Space studio in Southport where 26 children, aged six to 13, were taking part in a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop, armed with a knife.

In January this year Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Bebe, six, Elsie, seven, and Alice, nine, as well as the attempted murder of 10 other children and adults.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, met with the families of the three girls and confirmed the funding for the project.

In a joint statement the families 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.”

Ahead of the full-scale transformation, temporary improvements have been made to the Town Hall Gardens space to enhance its appearance and atmosphere.

Floral planters were installed earlier this year to bring colour and vibrancy to the area during the spring and summer of 2025, creating a welcoming and uplifting space for visitors and residents alike, before works commence on the space in due course.

By creating a flexible high-quality public space, the project will attract visitors, support local businesses, and complement other landmark public and private sector led developments in the town.

READ MORE: Metro Mayor urges Chancellor to back New Town plans

READ MORE: Buses and cycles at heart of Fabric District plans

Leader of Sefton Council, Cllr Marion Atkinson, added: “A space for joy, culture, and togetherness will reflect Elsie, Alice, and Bebe’s vibrancy in a beautifully positive way.

“The Town Hall gardens and The Atkinson were where the community came together in their grief, demonstrating Southport’s incredible strength. It was a place of togetherness then, it is a place of togetherness now, and it will be for years to come.

“The regeneration will create a dynamic, family-friendly stage for creativity, celebrating the love for dance and the arts that meant so much to the girls.”