'£10m gardens project will be legacy of our 3 beautiful girls'

SOUTHPORT FAMILIES, ROYALS & POLITICIANS ALL BACK MEMORIAL PROJECT

- By BEN HASLAM ECHO Reporter

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

The meeting, which took place yesterday at 10 Downing Street, has led to the announcement of plans to transform the Town Hall Gardens where thousands joined for a moving vigil to remember the girls.

The plans are also said to have the backing of the Royal Family, after King Charles visited the town last summer and the Prince and Princess of Wales met members of the affected families and emergency service personnel.

Six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed in the horrific knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Eight other children and two adults were also injured.

The following day and for some time afterwards crowds of people came to the gardens in front of The Atkinson and Southport Town Hall to lay flowers and remember the innocent little victims.

Yesterday, Sefton Council said the families envision the space as a safe and joyful place for children.

A spokesman 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 £10m investment, with both Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority providing £2.5m and the UK Government allocating £5m 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.