A ROW has broken out between MP Ian Lidell-Grainger and the county council following a fatal crash on Porlock Hill.

A motorcyclist in his 40s died after his Triumph Speed Triple collided with a Citroen ZX Furio on the A39 at 11.43am on Monday.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident towards the top of the 1:4 road to contact them on 0845-4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

Commenting on the tragedy, Bridgwater MP Liddell-Grainger said: "I'm horrified by this disaster.

"So many people have been killed and injured on the roads in my constituency this summer.

"I'm livid because I've asked for a meeting time after time with the county council to discuss these roads and they refuse.

"There are two or three really bad crashes a week on the roads of West Somerset.

"There is inadequate signage on Porlock Hill and there was another minor shunt there this week."

Sonia Davidson-Grant, Head of Somerset County Council's Environment Directorate that includes Highways and Road Safety said she had never refused to meet Mr Liddell-Grainger.

She added: "I'd be happy to meet him, and any of our MPs, to discuss road safety issues and listen to their concerns.

"Reducing road casualties remains one of our key priorities and this is reflected in the figures."

The number of road accidents in Somerset, including motorway and trunk roads, fell by nearly 100 last year.

The Somerset Road Safety Partnership is emphasising issues of driver education and recently hired a Road Safety Coordinator to look at motorcycle safety.

*Meanwhile, Porlock parish councillor Mike Edwards is renewing calls for a priority system on Porlock Hill to increase road safety and cut traffic jams in the village.

"It's a windy road with pinch points at either end, which is why I'm pushing for a priority system," he said.