Labour MP for Southport and the Northern Parishes Patrick Hurley has restated his strong support for a £10 million renewal of Southport's Town Hall Gardens, which would turn the space into a botanical, performance and civic hub at the heart of the town.
The project was announced after the Gardens became a focal point for the community following the tragic events of July 2024. Its vision was inspired by the families of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, who wanted to create a lasting "thank you" to the people of Southport for standing shoulder to shoulder with them.
The UK Government is contributing £5 million to the scheme, with a further £2.5 million each coming from Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Four connected spaces
Current proposals bring together four connected areas: a Performance Plaza, a Mega Ripples water feature, Celebration Dunes and a Botanical Garden. Together they are designed to give Southport a high-quality, accessible and family-friendly space for performances, community events, play, relaxation and horticulture.
Sefton Council is supporting delivery of the families' vision, and the plans have now been through two stages of public consultation. The second ran from 21 September to 5 October, with residents able to view the proposals and a model at The Atkinson, attend public exhibitions and submit their views online.
Hurley attended the second-stage consultation and welcomed the chance for residents, businesses and community groups to help shape the plans before a detailed planning application is submitted.
Patrick Hurley: 'Something truly special for Southport'
"The renewal of Town Hall Gardens is part of the wider programme of renewal and refurbishment I promised when you elected me as your MP, protecting what makes Southport special while investing in the places that need new life breathed into them," Patrick Hurley said.
"I believe this project can create an exceptional civic space at the heart of our town: somewhere families and residents can gather, and Southport's horticultural heritage can be celebrated."
He added: "I will always stand firmly behind protecting Southport's architecture, heritage and identity. But protecting what makes our town special must also sit alongside the ambition to invest, improve and create spaces future generations can enjoy and be proud of.
"That is why I strongly support this project and the consultation process that has accompanied it. Residents have rightly had the opportunity to scrutinise the proposals and help shape what ultimately comes forward, and I believe the final result can be something truly special for Southport."
