A SENIOR councillor has hit out at the ‘total disregard’ shown by speeding drivers on a busy road where a cyclist was killed last week.

Michael Severs, from Darlington, died after the bike he was riding collided with a parked car, in Carmel Road South, on Friday (May 31) morning.

The 53-year-old was airlifted to hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. His death was the latest in a string of flashpoints in the area recently.

In April, a trainee lorry driver brought down a telegraph pole in Carmel Road South, when his vehicle jack-knifed after skidding on a patch of diesel.

And in May, a bus and a car collided in Carmel Road North, causing damage to both vehicles, although no one was seriously injured.

Heather Scott, leader of the Conservative group on Darlington Borough Council and ward member for the area, has met with police to discuss road safety concerns on Carmel Road South.

She said: “I had a meeting with Chief Inspector Chris Reeves, from Darlington police, following concerns expressed by residents.

“He is going to ask traffic officers to carry out a speed check in Carmel Road South, fairly urgently, as a short-term measure.

“In the longer term, there will be a meeting between the police, the local authority and myself to see if we can come up with a more permanent solution.

“The problems is people coming off the roundabout at Elm Ridge too fast, there have been three incidents there in the last couple of months.

“We have got to do something as a result of the tragic death of the cyclist.

“Hopefully, in the short-term, it will slow down traffic and warn some of the regular users of the road, but longer term, we have got to come up with a solution.

“Whether that comes in the form of a permanent speed restriction, I do not yet know.

“It is the volume of traffic that is the problem, as people use it as a short cut through to the southern bypass.

“From 8am to 9am in the morning, around the time this latest accident happened, is the busiest time, and in the evenings.

“Some drivers have a total disregard for other road users, pedestrians and cyclists.”

Police are continuing to investigate Mr Severs’ death. Witnesses are asked to call 0191-375-2159.