Sefton unveils £10m Southport Town Hall Gardens vision
Honouring the shared love of dance of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King, the revitalised public space would include flexible spaces for performances and community events, play areas, and enhanced planting in a family-friendly setting.
Sefton Council has launched its second round of consultation over its £10m plans to commemorate the way the town came together in the wake of the 2024 Southport stabbings.
The families of the three girls killed were involved in crafting the proposals for the Southport Town Hall Gardens, which turned into a space for the community to come together and heal in the aftermath of the attack.
Central government has committed £5m for the project, with Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority committing £2.5m each.
The council has worked with Ridge on the design for the gardens off Lord Street. They would have four connected character areas: Performance Plaza, Mega Ripples, Celebration Dunes, and Botanical Garden.
Four distinct character areas will make up the gardens. Credit: via Sefton Council
“This is a heartfelt thank you to the people of Southport for their solidarity over the last two years,” said Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson.
“We want the new look gardens to not only capture the history, character and spirit of the town, but also create something special for future generations,” she continued.
Atkinson explained how the design was shaped from the first round of consultation.
“The presence of water features was one of the biggest recurring themes from the stage one consultation, which is why we’re proposing the ‘Mega Ripples’ – linked to the town’s historic Sea Bathing Lake and importance as a hydrotherapy resort in decades gone by,” she said.
“Southport’s rich theatre and cinema legacy will be reflected in the Performance Space, while the Celebration Dunes are a not-so-subtle nod to the stunning ecologically rich dunescapes of Birkdale and Ainsdale.
“People also wanted to protect and enhance the gardens’ greenspace which is why we’re ensuring there are more trees and planting opportunities than ever before with the new Botanical Garden.”
‘This is a heartfelt thank you to the people of Southport for their solidarity over the last two years,’ said Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson. Credit: via Sefton Council
Secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government Angela Rayner added: “The people of Southport have shown the very best of community: immeasurable strength, compassion and togetherness through an unimaginably difficult time.
“These gardens have been at the heart of the community’s efforts to rebuild and reconnect, while honouring and remembering Alice, Bebe and Elsie, and all survivors, with love and solidarity across the town.”
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram commended the town.
“Southport has shown incredible strength and solidarity over the last two years, and the Town Hall Gardens have become a place where that spirit is felt every day,” he said.
“These plans give us the opportunity to create something that reflects the character of Southport and gives people a beautiful, welcoming place to come together for generations to come.”
The consultation on the design runs through 5 October and can be accessed at consultationuk.co.uk/s/southport-town-hall-gardens-sefton-counc-b5ah9.
Hear more about how Sefton Council is transforming Southport and Bootle. Book your ticket to Place North’s Revitalising Our Town and City Centres conference.
