Plans for a chicken farm at Tad-Dukkiena on the outskirts of Siggiewi have drawn opposition from the locality's local council, environment NGOs and Dar tal-Providenza.
Mayor Karol Aquilina said the proposed farm would feature four large sheds and ancillary buildings which would blemish the environment of the area.
The farm would produce a stench and also risked polluting underground water sources.
The project, he said, would be especially harmful to Dar Tal-Providenza, located very close to it.
The mayor made his comments at a press conference attended by the director of Dar Tal-Providenza Fr Martin Micallef, representatives of Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers' Association and Friends of the Earth and a nummber of farmers, who said they backed the council's view.
The plans for the chicken farm are due to be discussed by the Mepa Board on Thursday.