Lady Marina Dalglish appointed independent chair of £10m regeneration project at Southport’s Town Hall Gardens with consultation showing strong public support for the scheme. Tony McDonough reports
A £10m legacy project to honour the lives of schoolgirls Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Da Silva Aguiar has recruited a high-profile local figure to chair its board.
Lady Marina Dalglish, respected charity campaigner and wife of Liverpool FC legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, has been appointed as independent chair of the project board overseeing the regeneration of Southport’s Town Hall Gardens.
With £5m from the Government, and £2.5m each from Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the gardens will be the location for a new open-air performance and gathering space.
This regeneration effort has been inspired by Bebe, Elsie and Alice who were murdered in an attack on a dance class at the Hart Space studio in Southport on July 29, 2024.
Armed with a knife, the then 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana entered the building where 26 children, aged six to 13, were taking part in a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.
In January this year Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Bebe, six, Elsie, seven, and Alice, nine, as well as the attempted murder of 10 other children and adults.
Since the tragedy the gardens have become a focal point for the community and the regeneration scheme has the backing of the families of the three girls.
Once complete, the space will be a “vibrant, family-friendly destination” – hosting open-air performances, markets, and community events – while also offering a “unifying setting where people can come together to remember and reflect”.
Lady Marina’s appointment follows the conclusion of the first phase of an engagement and consultation exercise to seek the views of residents, businesses and visitors on the future look of the space.
Feedback from the first stage of the consultation showed support for the regeneration project, with consultee views focussed on the recurring themes of water features, preservation of heritage and vehicle access.
Responses from this engagement stage will now be incorporated alongside feedback from families and schools to help shape a formal design and project plan.
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Lady Marina said: “Southport has been our family home for many years and we were deeply touched by the strength and hope shown by everyone involved in their desire to give something back to the town.
“The Town Hall Gardens regeneration will be a wonderful way to create a lasting legacy to the great people of Southport, while honouring the fantastic spirits of Alice, Bebe and Elsie.
“To be the independent chair on the project board is a real privilege and I will do my utmost to support the families and to help deliver something that they and the entire town can be hugely proud for generations to come.”