Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja has denied any link to people soliciting signatures for a petition in favour of the University development at Zonqor Point.

A number of Marsascala residents contacted this newsroom saying they had been petitioned by a number of women who claimed to be acting on behalf of Mr Calleja.

Mr Calleja denied the claims outright, saying he has already been contacted by residents about the matter.

Residents in the area have also been contacted by a survey company asking them if they are in favour or against the Zonqor Point development.

If residents fail to give the ‘correct’ answer, the surveyors put them through the wringer, asking them why they are against them to justify why they are against the project.

The Marsascala local council is itself divided over the issue. Deputy mayor Desiree Attard saying the project will not bring about the “advertised advantages,” and should not go ahead at the proposed site.

Mayor Calleja disagrees, saying the project will regenerate the area from an economic perspective.

A straw poll carried out by The Malta Independent last month indicated that Marsascala residents generally favour the development taking place at Zonqor Point.

Opposition to the development has been growing by the day. Front Ħarsien ODZ – a movement against the development – has been set up and will be holding a protest outside of Parliament this Saturday. Today the same movement launched a video to encourage the public to participate

It has asked all members of parliament to openly declare whether their position on the Zonqor Point development.

The Opposition has publicly declared it is against the development, but the only MP from the government benches to express opposition has been Marlene Farrugia.

An initial agreement with the Jordanian investor behind the project was signed earlier last month, earmarking the virgin land at Zonqor Point as the preferred place for the development.

Public outcry has seen Prime Minister Joseph Muscat turn to “citizens” to propose an alternative venue for the university.

The only condition is that the proposed sites are in the south of Malta.