Two local papers in West Sussex have been at the forefront of exposing what they calls “health and safety madness” from their local council.

A few weeks ago, Chichester District Council regulations almost sank a long-standing charity event, the River Rother Raft Race.

The race was saved when the Midhurst and Petworth Observer flagged up the story and volunteers with the necessary expertise came forward to help the organisers.

Sister paper the Chichester Observer then turned the spotlight on the council’s new ‘Language Guide’ for staff, packed with advice such as not to use phrases like ‘man in the street’ or ‘manning the switchboard’. Its story was subsequently picked up by many of the nationals.

This week the council has again found itself making local headlines for the wrong reasons.

When South Harting parish councillors asked the district council to clear up a bin which had been thrown into a stream and was spilling out rubbish into the water, the district council’s response was to send out an inspection team and then report back to the parish council that it could not be done immediately as no staff were available who were ‘qualified to wear Wellington boots’.

Once again, the Observer stepped in and the stream, which is only four inches deep, was eventually cleared by parish councillors, including Pat James, a 71-year-old grandmother.

Chichester Observer deputy editor John Carter said: “Chichester District Council do seem to be prone to a little health and safety madness at present. Sadly, it’s a reflection of our times and I’m sure there are councils up and down the country implementing similarly bizarre rulings.

“We just happen to hear about them and our readers are rightly stunned. We had a postbag of letters following our story on the language guide, and expect the same about the wellies.”