Court to inspect proposed restaurant underneath old Valletta university

A judge presiding over injunction proceedings against allegedly ‘illegal’ works on a new restaurant beneath the old University Campus in Merchants' Street, Valletta, ordered an onsite visit on Thursday afternoon. That order was issued by Mr Justice Grazio Mercieca at the end of an animated hearing on Thursday morning when lawyers for the university and the individual undertaking works at the new restaurant crossed swords over the controversial project. The university resorted to legal action and obtained a provisional injunction blocking the works, after a judicial protest filed against Charles Foca, the man responsible for the development, proved futile. The university says it had not been consulted in any way and had missed out on the chance to file an objection against the proposed eatery, specialising in Asian and Mediterranean cuisine.   The owner of the premises is the Lands Authority which, as administrator of government property, had informed the Planning Authority that it did not approve the proposed development. In his reply to the injunction application, Foca argued that he was handling the works on behalf of Mark Portelli, who held the premises under title of...