Keir Starmer Pledges £5 Million Towards Southport Town Hall Gardens Revamp Honouring Victims of the stabbings

IN London, on:- 10 June 2025, the Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged £5 million in Government support towards the £10 million redevelopment of Southport's Town Hall Gardens. The commitment follows a meeting held at 10 Downing Street with the families of:- Elsie, Alice, and Bebe, the 3 young girls whose tragic deaths deeply impacted the community.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister discussed the ongoing transformation of the gardens outside the Atkinson Arts Centre, in Southport, Merseyside. The redevelopment project, which has already begun, is inspired by the girls' love of the arts and aims to serve both as a public memorial and a lasting expression of gratitude to the Southport community for its resilience and solidarity.

The new public square is envisioned as a cultural hub that will incorporate artistic features reflecting the creativity and passions of Elsie, Alice, and Bebe. Designed to be a space for:- reflection, remembrance, and community engagement, the gardens are expected to become a central venue for local events and performances.

Funding for the project is being shared among multiple stakeholders. In addition to the Government's £5 million pledge, Sefton Borough Council has contributed £2.5 million, with additional support already been given from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Prime Minister Starmer has siad:- "This project is about honouring the memory of 3 beloved girls and creating a space that fosters:- healing, unity, and cultural pride."

The families of the victims have been closely involved in shaping the vision for the site, advocating for a space that not only memorializes their daughters, but also brings the community together through art and shared experience. Local residents and arts organisations have been invited to contribute to the final design.

Labour Party officials describe the initiative as a reflection of the party's broader commitment to community led cultural renewal and investment in public spaces.

The Town Hall Gardens project follows the devastating events of:- 29 July 2024, when a tragedy at the Hart Space dance studio claimed the lives of the 3 young girls. Southport continues to heal from the incident, and for many residents, today's announcement is a meaningful step forward.

However, the sense of progress has been tempered by heartbreaking international news. As the funding pledge was announced, reports emerged of a School shooting in Graz, Austria. In response, members of the Southport community expressed their solidarity with those affected.

This is a copy of the PM's remarks in the Downing Street meeting with the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Aguiar. Sir Keir Starmer said:- "Let me just start by saying thank you so much for coming in, and you're very welcome. I know you've got some plans that you want to show us, so we're very much looking forward to seeing those plans, to honour Bebe, Alice and Elsie. I know that the plan is very much developing on the idea of the gardens in a very special way, and so we're looking forward to seeing that. There's already the prospect of some funding to go towards the gardens to make them exactly as you want them. And as a proper honour to the 3 girls, I'm really pleased to tell you today that the Government will make up the rest of the money, so that as from today, you know that this project is secure and will go ahead. Thank you for coming to show us the plans. Thank you for your continued courage and resilience. As I've said to you all a number of times, I think most people in the country would say they wouldn't know how to deal with the situation, but you've shown courage and resilience and come forward with these plans, which will then be a great honour and an incredible thing for so many people and for children as they make use of the gardens, which is a wonderful thing to do. So, thank you very much for that. And also, we sit here as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, but we sit here as human beings with families of our own. And we sit here on behalf of millions of people who would love to see the plans and to say well done for bringing them forward and getting to this point. So through us, the thanks of millions of people in this country. I know there'll be a sense that all of us, alongside you, will want to see these plans. I think when they understand the concept of what you're doing here, I think they'll be really moved and touched by it. So thank you."

 

"As a Town that has lived through unimaginable grief, we hope the people of Graz can find strength in 1 another, as we have," said a Southport Mother, adding:- "Our hearts are with them tonight, just as the world stood with us in our darkest hour."

'Once in a generation' redevelopment plan sees renewed calls for a New Town for Liverpool City Region

RENEWED calls to secure New Town status for a major regeneration scheme have been made by the Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram.

Ahead of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, that was announced on:- Wednesday, 11 June 2025, the Mayor is urging ministers to grant Liverpool North New Town status in order to supercharge delivery of the 10 year vision.

Under bold plans, Liverpool North would be created on the northern fringe of the City of Liverpool through to Bootle town centre, transforming 5km of brownfield land. The scheme would see 10,000 new homes built.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, said:- "Liverpool North is 1 of the biggest regeneration opportunities in the country right now; bigger even than Old Trafford; and its potential to transform lives is enormous. We're talking about 10,000 new homes, thousands of jobs, and a chance to turn round the fortunes of communities that have been held back for far too long. From Bootle to Kirkdale, Everton to Anfield, this is a proud part of our City Region, rich in history, resilience and potential. We've brought local leaders, football clubs, colleges and housing providers together around a single shared vision; and we're all raring to go. We have a real chance to work hand in hand with our Government to deliver the kind of joined up, long term investment that changes lives. New Town status would be a real catalyst to kickstart that transformation."

The regeneration of the area, 1 of Britain's most deprived, would span:- Everton, Kirkdale and Anfield, and create linkages to key developments such as:- Everton FC's Bramley Moore Dock Stadium and the City's Waterfront

As part of the regeneration, there are also plans to invest in major improvements to public transport and active travel infrastructure. Enhancing bus, rail, and cycling connections will help better link communities across North Liverpool and South Sefton with jobs, education and leisure opportunities. These upgrades would not only support the delivery of new homes and developments but could also pave the way for more ambitious projects in future; including:- the case for a new train Station to better serve the area.

Collaboration is already underway with key partners including:- Homes England, as well as:- Liverpool FC and Everton FC. The development is a centrepiece of the Liverpool City Region's Investment Prospectus, showcased at the recent property exhibitions of:- MIPIM and UKREiiF.

New Town status is a designation given to certain areas of the UK undergoing significant redevelopment. It brings co-ordinated investment in housing, infrastructure and community spaces and aims to revitalise areas to make them more attractive to live and work.

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council said:- "New Town status for Anfield, Bootle, Everton and Kirkdale will prove to be a real game changer and help to radically reverse decades of decline in this area. It will provide a much-needed economic boost to these communities, providing thousands of affordable homes and creating massive opportunities for employment and education. This is so much more than about bricks and mortar. It's about building hope and ambition. The plans for Liverpool North will act as a major catalyst for economic revival that will be felt throughout the Region."

Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council said:- "This project will supercharge plans to transform Bootle and South Sefton, bringing huge improvements to the housing stock and improving links to the City Centre and beyond. It's about unlocking communities, growth and housing for the benefit of residents, businesses and the wider Region."

Key projects included in the Liverpool North redevelopment plans include:-

• Goodison Legacy. Working with Everton FC and Everton in the Community, the Council is developing plans for the area around Goodison Park, including:-  a new strategic walking and cycling route, the Toffee Trail, that will unlock key housing sites.
  

• The transformation of Bootle town centre including:- the creation of the Salt and Tar venue and the ongoing redevelopment of the Strand Shopping Centre to create a community focussed and thriving Town Centre.
  

• County Road: Proposals for County Road are also being developed, with a focus on linking Goodison to the new Waterfront Stadium.
  

• Anfield:- LCC is working with housing associations, commercial partners and Liverpool FC to bring forward housing and mixed-use development in the Anfield area, including:- a:- "Red Walk" connection.
  

• Greatie Market:- a £5m investment in Great Homer Street market is expected to stimulate increased housing development in the area.

The plans for the area have been developed in collaboration with Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council and Homes England as well as other key partners including:- Liverpool FC, Everton FC, The City of Liverpool College, Hugh Baird College, Everton in the Community, Torus Liverpool, Riverside, 1 Vision Housing and Plus Dane Housing.

A formal submission for New Town status was sent to the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2024.

It is being considered by the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel which will support the Government in the delivery of the next generation of new towns

The Government says the Taskforce has received 100 expressions of interest to build large new settlements from across every Region in England.