'a safe and joyful place for children'

Funding announced for communal garden in town centre after stabbing victims' families met PM

- BY BEN HASLAM

PLANS for a new £10 million communal garden in Southport town centre have been announced following a meeting between the families of the three girls killed in Southport last year and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The meeting, which took place in 10 Downing Street, has led to the announcement of plans which will see the transformation of Town Hall Gardens in Southport town centre, where thousands joined together for a moving vigil to remember the girls.

Six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed in the tragedy at the Hart Space on July 29 last year after a horrific knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Eight other children and two adults were also injured.

The following day saw thousands come together to pay tribute to the three schoolgirls at a moving vigil in the town centre. Streams of people flooded the space outside The Atkinson and Southport Town Hall as flowers were laid in their memory.

Eleven months on from the incident, Sefton Council said the families envision the space as a safe and joyful place for children.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "Sefton Council has worked closely with the families to secure local and national funding and provided detailed feedback to ensure the project reflects the aspirations of the community.

"This vital project is made possible thanks to a £10 million investment with both Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority providing £2.5 million and the UK Government allocating £5 million to the works."

In a joint statement, the families of Bebe, Elsie and Alice said:

"This project is a vision we have all shared for some time, which is rooted in love, resilience and unity.