Southport MP Patrick Hurley has restated his strong support for the £10 million renewal of Southport’s Town Hall Gardens, which will create a vibrant botanical, performance and civic space at the heart of the town.
The project was announced after the Gardens became a key focal point for the community following the tragic events of July 2024.
Funding includes £5 million from the UK Government, £2.5 million from Sefton Council and £2.5 million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
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Current proposals include four connected areas: a Performance Plaza, Mega Ripples water feature, Celebration Dunes and a Botanical Garden. Together, the plans aim to create a high-quality, accessible and family-friendly public space for performances, community events, play, relaxation and horticultural interest.
The vision was inspired by the families of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, who wanted to create a lasting “thank you” to the people of Southport for standing shoulder to shoulder with them following the events of July 2024.
Sefton Council is supporting the delivery of the families’ vision, with the project having gone through two stages of public consultation.
The second phase ran from 21 September to 5 October, with residents able to view the proposals and model at The Atkinson, attend public exhibitions and submit their views online.
Patrick attended the second-stage consultation and has welcomed the opportunity for residents, businesses and community groups to help shape the plans before a detailed planning application is submitted.
Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport and the Northern Parishes, said:
“The renewal of Town Hall Gardens is part of the wider programme of renewal and refurbishment I promised when you elected me as your MP, protecting what makes Southport special while investing in the places that need new life breathed into them.
“I believe this project can create an exceptional civic space at the heart of our town: somewhere families and residents can gather, and Southport’s horticultural heritage can be celebrated.
“I will always stand firmly behind protecting Southport’s architecture, heritage and identity. But protecting what makes our town special must also sit alongside the ambition to invest, improve and create spaces future generations can enjoy and be proud of.
“That is why I strongly support this project and the consultation process that has accompanied it. Residents have rightly had the opportunity to scrutinise the proposals and help shape what ultimately comes forward, and I believe the final result can be something truly special for Southport.”
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