A conflict in Keighley Muslim Association has flared up over comments a member made to the Keighley News.

Javed Bashir the association's press secretary last week said Muslims would support plans for a new Asda store in the town if it provided parking spaces for the local mosque.

But Mazhar Iqbal, the association's president, says Mr Bashir has spoken out of turn and has now been dismissed from his post.

Mr Bashir said: "I wasn't dismissed. I stepped down because of other commitments. I didn't have time to do everything.

"I did not make those comments for the benefit of my health. If they are going to build Asda they will whether we agree or disagree.

"At least we would have some sort of car park."

Mr Bashir said other members of the community shared his views.

He also found approval from residents of the Emily Street sheltered housing complex.

The warden, Jacqueline Hurt, said: "All our residents are quite supportive. A lot of them have to rely on relations to take them to town.

"They would be able to walk over to Asda."

But other residents of Emily Street and Bradford Street -- adjacent to where the store is planned -- oppose it.

Mr Iqbal said the Muslim Association supported their views.

Through an interpreter he said: "We will support them because the Muslim Association is selected by the community.

"If they don't support it we don't support it. One person can't speak for everybody -- it has to be discussed with the community."

He added that if Asda wanted to discuss its plans with the community, it could write a letter to the Muslim Association to arrange a meeting.

Mr Bashir had "disappointed" the community, said Mr Iqbal, by commenting without first discussing his views with the association committee.

Also angered by Mr Bashir's comments was Allah Ditta, chairman of an action group set up by Bradford Street and Emily Street residents to oppose the store.

He said: "The mosque is for everybody and should not be involved in politics."

Mr Ditta added that he was glad the association had distanced itself from the comments by dismissing Mr Bashir.

The action group is being backed by the Sangat Centre, whose manager Khadim Hussain said: "We should move towards working together as a community, to build bridges and fight any issue."

Asda officials are meeting residents on May 29.

* Residents living next to the site where the proposed Asda will be built have voiced their concerns about the development.

Businessman Mohammed Parvaiz, who lives in Bradford Street, said locals were concerned about the effects the new supermarket could have on their quality of life.

Mr Parvaiz, who is a director of Omega Windows in Stockbridge and owns a drapers shop in Bradford Street, said: "If this goes ahead we are going to have trucks running around at all times of the day.

"My children go to bed at 8pm and it will make it harder for youngsters and older people alike to get a decent nights sleep.

"It's going to directly affect residents because there will be an increase in traffic from all the shoppers driving to the store at all hours of the day.

"I've got a four bedroom house but no one will want to live next to a supermarket so, it is bound to devalue my property."

He added that many residents in Bradford Street were angered by comments made by Mr Bashir in last week's Keighley News.