Protestors call out 'tragedy' of lack of bookshop on university campus

A handful of students, lecturers and members of the public answered a call by the University Student Council (KSU) on Wednesday to protest against the construction of an 11-storey hotel outside the University.

The hotel is set to be built on the site that used to host the Mireva bookshop, which sold textbooks and academic literature to students and university staff and photocopied millions of papers for years before shutting down some years ago.

Over 80 people, made up of lecturers, students and members of NGOs gathered at the university's main square, known as the quadrangle. 

Photo: Jonathan Borg.

Developer Mark Agius, known in his native Gozo as 'Ta’ Dirjanu’ and who has previously partnered with Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli, is asking the PA (through application 05079/22) for a permit to add another floor to the building, despite having already secured an additional two floors over-and-above the permitted maximum for the area in his original planning application.

The proposed development is located just outside the gates of the University of Malta campus, which is a residential area designed as a Student Housing Area by local plans.

No bookshop left on campus

Speaking...