On the face of it, it looked like being a shoo-in, and ultimately it was, but the discussion was not that simple.

The Mepa board discussed an application for a change of use near the Junior College. Originally, this was a garage but a change of use in 2008 to a Class 4 shop. Now the application was to turn the Lemon, Lime & Orange outlet into a Class 4D outlet (the former Class 6). Class 4 can mean a convenience store while Class 4D allows cooking on site.

The issue was that the local plan still considers the area as a residential area but it has become anything but a normal residential area and many Class 6 shops have been allowed to open. There are 2600 students at Junior College and many of them are usually to be found roaming around during daytime hours.  Other applications are in the pipeline.

The recommendation by the Directorate was to approve the application, given the area is heavily committed, but Deputy Chairman Franco Montesin was having none of that: the rights of the residents must be upheld, even in such an area. Mr Montesin also noted the previous application was for a shop on the Gzira seafront and it was refused because no parking was provided.

Msida residents have all right not to be woken up at 1am with car doors being slammed shut after people exit from restaurants. This is not a regeneration as it is being called, but a degeneration.

Mepa chairman Vince Cassar pointed out that all these outlets cater for the same clientele and these outlets anyway are not open at night.

Board member Alex Vella said he was not happy with the application because it infringes the good neighbourhood principle.

Board member Professor Victor Axiak then asked the owners to confirm that so far no cooking is done on site and, when they confirmed, said he passed by the previous day and a rich odour of cooked food wafted out. The owners retorted they just heat pre-cooked meals.

The application was then approved with Mr Montesin and Mr Vella objecting.