What an announcement last night – Southport’s Town Hall gardens will undergo a substantial £10m regeneration thanks to the aspirations, the vision and and efforts of the families of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King.
The new look gardens will be a fitting place to remember and to enjoy for generations of families.
Here are five things we learned:
1 – Southport families are extraordinary
We continue to be amazed by the extraordinary bravery, kindness and selflessness of the families of the three girls.
They are determined to create something so beautiful for children to enjoy, a bright light emerging from Southport’s darkest day.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised their “courage and resilience” at 10 Downing Street as they showed him their vision for how they would love the Town hall gardens to look.
In a joint statement welcoming the project, the girls’ 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.”
They have already achieved incredible things through the creation of the Elsie’s Story charity and the Bebe’s Hive charity and the successful conclusion of the appeal to raise £250,000 (eventually passing £350,000) to create a brand new playground at Churchtown Primary School.
They have been relentless in their determination to make good things happen.
Their joint response to the tragedy has been to show kindness and compassion and not hatred; theirs is an example to anyone across the world.
2 – Southport will be known for all the right reasons
Southport? The place of the tragedy and the riots? No. That will not define us.
People in Southport have shown an extraordinary community spirit.
Person by person, day by day, people are doing immense things to ensure that when people mention our town’s name, it resonates with thoughts of a kind-hearted community that led the way.
The families of the girls who died have led the way but they are in warm company.
We have seen countless fundraising events taking place from both adults and children.
At the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards earlier this year, we received over 2,000 nominations – the most we’ve ever seen.
People have run marathons. Knitted bracelets. Taken part in fun days. Organised bubble blowing events, fun days and summer soirees.
Last year we saw faith leaders across Southport come together for a Walk Of Unity; every day we saw the Lord Street In Bloom volunteers work hard to make the Town hall gardens bloom with colour.
After last summer’s appalling riots, people from across Southport came down en masse to help rebuild walls, repair windows, turn up with food and water, and bring gifts for injured police officers.
Just 24 hours after the tragedy, thousands of families hugged and supported each other in a moving vigil showing empathy for all those who had suffered loss, injury and the most unimaginable trauma.
Southport has redefined itself as a town of hope and not hate.
3 – Southport is a town of children’s laughter
As a much-loved seaside holiday destination, Southport has given many happy memories and experiences to families from across the world.
Children and adults love riding on the Carousel; going on rides at the fairground, travelling on the miniature railway; playing crazy golf; splashing on boat rides; taking part in fun events.
The families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe have now been inspired by the girls’ shared love of dance, music and the arts to inspire a new vision for a new town square.
Their families envision the Town Hall gardens space as a safe and joyful place, full of energy and creative expression, particularly for Southport’s younger generations.
In direct reflection of the spirit of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, the reimagined Town Hall Gardens will provide a child friendly and safe platform for musicians, dancers, artists, culture lovers and more, ensuring it remains a vibrant hub for generations to come.
It will be an exciting place for children to come together and play, perform, laugh and smile together. What a legacy that will be.
4 – Regeneration of Lord Street is much needed
Many describe Lord Street as ‘the jewel of Southport’ and £ 10million investment towards its continued regeneration will be warmly welcomed.
The Town Hall gardens, last revamped a quarter of a century ago, have seen better days; most of the paving flags are cracked and worn.
There is now a new opportunity to create an exciting new space outside The Atkinson which will form an impressive focal point.
Crucially, it should also act as a catalyst for further private investment.
Lord Street – a unique UK heritage site with an incredible collection of Victorian and art deco architecture – has been on the national Heritage At Risk Register for far too long.
While villages such as Birkdale, Churchtown and Ainsdale have thrived in recent years, it is time for Lord Street and Southport town centre to follow.
Things are looking positive. We have already seen significant private investment in places like the Northern Quarter, with new venues such as The Grand, the Lord Street Hotel, Sinclair’s, Ra Bar, Ginger’s, the Clare Wright Art Gallery, and a revamped The Bold and Volare.
Further private investment is coming with venues such as The Garrick and the Wetherspoon Hotel.
Public funding has been driving new venues including the Marine Lake Events Centre, Southport Market, Eastbank at Southport Enterprise Arcade.
What’s happening at Wayfarers Arcade is exciting to see, with the ongoing regeneration there winning an Innovation Award at the recent Your Southport Stars Awards.
We need that momentum to keep going.
5 – We’ll get by with a little help from our friends
Southport was left devastated last year in more ways than one.
Damaged emotionally, as a community, as a town.
Businesses and attractions were hit hard. Some have sadly closed.
We’ve begun the process of recovery – thanks to lots of help and compassion from those around us.
When the tragedy happened last summer, messages of love and support flooded in from around the world.
In the past few months, fundraising appeals for Elsie’s Story, Bebe’s Hive, the Southport Hesketh Round Table appeal, the Churchtown Primary School playground appeal, have enjoyed huge local and national support.
On a wider level, we have been grateful for the support from the likes of the Government, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, from Sefton Council.
As The Beatles once again’ we get by with a little help from our friends’.
This summer we’d love to see lots of our neighbours from the Liverpool city region and from around the UK coming to Southport to spend time with us and enjoy the many superb attraction and events on offer.
You’ll be guaranteed a warm Southport welcome.
6 – We’d love to see Southport Pier restored next
The response from people in Southport to the news of the Town hall gardens regeneration was positive; we can’t wait to see this vibrant new space being created in Southport.
Southport’s most iconic landmark, Southport Pier – the second longest pier in the country which was opened in 1860 – is an attraction we’d love to see opened next.
There were hundreds of comments across social media last night calling for the Pier restoration to be tackled next.
The Pier has been closed since December 2022 and we miss it!
Reopening this amazing structure would provide a massive boost to local people and the local economy.
It would be a great feature to sit next to the new £73m Marine Lake Events Centre which is being built at the moment.
Southport is united in wanting Southport Pier to be reopened, with 97% of local residents backing a poll earlier this year for it to be fixed.
Southport’s MP, Sefton Council, local businesses and local people are all keen to be able to walk along the Pier again.
Sefton Council has completed a detailed survey on its condition and has secured Listed Building Consent for the restoration work needed.
Routes for the funding required continue to be explored as the bid to reopen Southport Pier continues.
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