Concerns about the proximity of the proposed new fish market to the abattoir in Marsa this morning led the Mepa board to postpone a decision on whether the new site is suitable.
The Resources Ministry wanted to move the fish market (pixkerija) from Grand Harbour to a state of the art facility in Marsa, next door to the abattoir.
However the Mepa board this morning said it wished to consult the Veterinary Service over whether there were any safety concerns because of the proximity to the abattoir. The issue will be discussed again by the board in a month's time. The board will, at that meeting, also discuss concerns about parking and plans to convert a nearby warehouse into a parking facility.
The new fish market will be located on the site of a former reverse osmosis plant, next door to the abattoir.
Funded mostly through the European Fisheries Fund, the new fish market will include six chillers instead of the current two, a processing and packaging plant, and a crate washing facility, among other services.
There will also be a fish shop for the public.
The current fish market building, on the water's edge close to the old Customs House, was built some 50 years ago and there are plans to convert it into a boutique hotel.
188 apartments instead of soft drinks plant
Mepa this morning also granted an outline permit for the building of 188 apartments and 300 garages on the site of the former General Soft Drinks plant in Qormi. The plant has been relocated to a nearby site.
The board agreed that water from a borehole on the old site may be piped to the new site as long as it is used only for industrial purposes.