The parents of the three girls murdered in the Southport attack have hailed plans for a new garden space – on the spot where thousands gathered in a vigil after last summer’s tragedy. Alice Aguiar, nine, seven year-old Elsie Stancombe and Bebe King, six, were fatally stabbed by murder-obsessed 17 year-old Axel Rudakubana as they enjoyed a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last 29th July.
At Liverpool Crown Court in January, Rudakubana was jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years for murdering the three youngsters, and wounding eight other children and two adults. Now – as the first anniversary looms next month – Sefton Council said the resort’s historic Town Hall gardens will become a family-friendly, safe open-air performance and gathering space as a lasting tribute to the victims and local people.
The transformation is being led by the three grieving families as the girls’ “shared love of dance, music and the arts has inspired a vision for a new town square – an inclusive community focussed events space in the heart of Southport.”
The gardens have long been a part of Southport’s history but in 2024 became a place of “unity, healing, hope and remembrance” as thousands gathered for a community vigil – leaving tributes and flowers for the victims.
Their families envision the Town Hall gardens space as a safe and joyful place, full of energy and creative expression, particularly for Southport’s younger generations.
In a statement, the three families said: “This project is a vision we have all shared for some time, which is rooted in love, resilience and unity.
“We wanted to find a way to thank the people of Southport for standing shoulder to shoulder with us. Your compassion has never wavered and your strength has helped carry us forward.
“The regeneration of the Town Hall Gardens will become a legacy inspired by our three beautiful and amazing girls and it will be a space that is loved by many generations to come.
“It will be a place of joy, hope and community. A vibrant place where children and families can feel safe, connected and celebrated in the heart of our town.
“We are grateful to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, to Sefton Council and to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and each of the region’s Councils, for listening to our voices and helping us achieve the funding we need for this project.
“This is only the beginning, and we all walk forward together with our amazing community in Southport, with purpose and hope.”
Ahead of the full-scale transformation, temporary improvements have been made to the Town Hall Gardens space to enhance its appearance and atmosphere.
Floral planters were installed in spring to bring colour and vibrancy to the area before works commence on the space in due course.
The council hopes the regeneration project will “play a key role in Southport’s ongoing economic recovery and growth” by attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and complementing other landmark developments.
It’s being 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.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “The strength of everyone in Southport has been beyond words and I am delighted that we are able to help with the families’ vision to give back to that amazing community.”
While Leader of Sefton Council, Cllr Marion Atkinson, said: “A space for joy, culture, and togetherness will reflect Elsie, Alice, and Bebe’s vibrancy in a beautifully positive way.
“The Town Hall gardens and The Atkinson were where the community came together in their grief, demonstrating Southport’s incredible strength.
“It was a place of togetherness then, it is a place of togetherness now, and it will be for years to come.”
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said the gardens last year became “a place of reflection, resilience and unity where thousands came together to grieve, to support one another, and to stand as one.”
He added: “This regeneration is a powerful opportunity to give something back to that same community; a lasting symbol of hope and joy.
“By putting children, families and the arts at its core, we’re creating a space that honours the memory of Elsie, Alice and Bebe in the most meaningful way: by inspiring future generations.”
And Southport’s MP Patrick Hurley added: “We gathered spontaneously and collectively in the gardens. So it is fitting that as time goes on, these gardens are at the heart of the proposal for the renewal of Southport.
“Not just to acknowledge the awful events of July, but more importantly, to recognise the spirit of the town, its people and the families of those affected in bringing Southport back into the light.”
