Tony Colpoys saw red when he was sent a copy of CDC's latest Language Guide for employees and members which had been drawn up by the Standards Committee.

An eight-page document, it consists of three columns headed 'Try not to use', 'Why not?' and 'A positive alternative'.

Writing in the latest Ebernoe and Northchapel Parish News, Mr Colpoys said: "Just one example, 'the man in the street' is deemed to be politically incorrect and employees must say 'the general public'.

A furious Mr Colpoys told parishioners: "Nobody in their right mind ever imagined this phrase referred only to the male sex. In this document are eight pages of well-known expressions which have been singled out for the same idiotic treatment.

"I was saddened to read it for I never thought for a moment our district council of all local authorities would become contaminated by the repulsive evil of political correctness.

"If only Gilbert and Sullivan could see it, they would have a field day with it," Mr Colpoys told the Observer.

Among the other expressions which get the thumbs-down is 'manning the switchboard' which apparently is "not a fair reflection of reality and makes either the views or work of women invisible'.

Instead employees are advised to use 'non-gender specific terms – there are plenty about, eg the general public or Chichester people staffing the switchboard or running the switchboard'.

Females should no longer be referred to as 'girls' or 'ladies' as according to CDC: "The terms available to refer to women carry far more overtones and meaning than those referring to men.

"For example it is not usual to hear men at work being referred to as boys or even gentlemen – the masculine equivalent of 'girl' or 'lady'."

Employees and members are advised: "The aim should be to try not to cause offence and therefore for most purposes the use of woman or women is accurate and appropriate."

'Old woman', 'old fool' and 'old codger' are perhaps unsurprisingly on the 'no' list as these labels, said CDC, 'stereotype old people as fussy, stupid and dependent'.

The positive alternative, continued the language guide, on the advice of Age Concern, is 'older person'.

A CDC spokesperson said: "It is not what we think about the
language that we use, it's the consequences for the people of whom we speak – or with whom we interact – and the effect on them that's important.

"As individuals we might all have our views on political correctness but in our society, that is striving to be more sensitive and responsive to the needs of others, some modest limitation on the type of words and phrases we use in everyday situations is quite advisable."