Manchester Arena attack: Frodsham park renaming campaign 'lovely'

Elaine McIver's partner said it was a "lovely gesture", especially from "someone I don't know"

The partner of a Manchester Arena attack victim has said being told of a stranger's campaign to rename a park in her honour "brought a tear to my eye".

Businesswoman Emma Jones wants to rename Frodsham's Ship Street play area as a "fitting tribute" to Elaine McIver.

The Cheshire Police officer, who lived in the town with Paul Price, was one of 22 people killed in the 2017 bombing.

He said it was a "lovely gesture", especially from "someone I don't know".

Ms Jones said she set up a petition to help retired police volunteer John Lloyd, whose idea it had been to rename the site - also known as Green Gates park - as McIver Memorial Park.

'Gave a lot'

She said the detective, who was off-duty when she was killed, "deserved" to have a "fitting tribute" in the town where she lived.

"It would be nice for people who knew her to have somewhere to go and pay their respects and shine a light on her memory," she added.

"She gave a lot to the community so it is only right to do this for her."

Frodsham Town Council discussed renaming the park at a council meeting on 18 October, which was attended by nine of Ms McIver's family.

The authority has said it will allow the renaming of the park as part of a redevelopment plan in consultation with the relatives.

However, the council said the project was at an early stage and was not expected to be completed until summer 2022.

Mr Price told BBC Radio Merseyside: "It brought a tear to my eye just to think someone I don't know would do such a lovely thing and get the ball rolling.

"What a lovely gesture."

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