Courage and kindness of those involved in Southport tragedy to be thanked at Extraordinary Sefton Council event

By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

Members of the emergency services and everyone involved in supporting the families left devastated by the tragedy in Southport which saw three young girls killed and several children and adults severely injured will be thanked at an Extraordinary Meeting of Sefton Council. 

The unique event will take place at Southport Town Hall next Thursday (12th September 2024 at Southport Town Hall. 

Sefton Council leader and Sefton Labour Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson will put forward a motion, seconded by Sefton Conservative Leader Cllr Mike Prendergast, sending condolences to those who “experienced the most horrific event imaginable”. 

The atrocity happened at The Hart Space in Southport on 29th July when young children and class leaders enjoying a Taylor Swift yoga and dance class were targeted in a knife attack. 

After the shocking riot in Southport which followed just 24 hours after the tragedy, which saw local homes, cars, businesses and Southport Mosque damaged, the local authority will also vow that “we are stronger together than those who seek to divide us”. 

Sefton Council is keen to arrange civic receptions in the coming weeks to thank and recognise as many of those involved as possible. 

At the meeting, Cllr Atkinson will say: “On 29th July 2024 the lives of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King, 3 innocent girls were taken, with many others being injured and everyone who attended the dance class in Hart Street, Southport experiencing the most horrific event imaginable. 

“As a council, we offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. 

“Our thoughts and prayers, including to the survivors and their families, and those of many others, are with you all. 

“We wish to record our thanks to the members of all emergency service workers at Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and all of those NHS staff across the region for their bravery and professionalism in their initial response and for their ongoing care and expertise in supporting the victims and their families. 

“We also wish to record our thanks to members of the public who responded bravely to help the victims and support their communities and thank those Sefton MBC staff who have provided and continue to provide ongoing support to those impacted by this tragedy. 

“Furthermore we thank businesses, the voluntary sector, faith leaders, and the many other organisations, groups and individuals from Southport and across the wider Liverpool City Region for their response. 

“As a community, Southport responded by pulling together with an outpouring of support for the families across the town, as evidenced by the thousands of people who attended the vigil at The Atkinson in Southport. 

“Our community has proven we are stronger together than those who seek to divide us. 

“This Council: 

will continue to work with and be led by the families affected over the coming months and years.

will continue to work with those schools affected and the Southport Learning Partnership to meet the presenting needs of the families and of all of our children.  

will arrange civic receptions in the autumn to thank and recognise as many of those involved as possible.”

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