BIN lorries are set to help council chiefs get an accurate picture of mobile phone signal strength across the Forest of Dean, thanks to sensors fitted to the vehicles to record mobile signals.

This innovative approach is among a series of measures Gloucestershire County Council is taking as part of its strategy for digital infrastructure, inclusion and innovation.

That particular research will then be used to lobby telecommunications companies to improve their signal coverage as well as providing residents with accurate information on those firms with the best offer.

Shire Hall chiefs say significant progress has been made on improving digital infrastructure across the county in recent years but residents in rural parts of the county such as the Forest of Dean still report problems with mobile phone signal.

Council leaders say improving the county’s online connectivity and digital capability will also create opportunities for innovation, productivity and economic growth.

And they also believe their digital inclusion programme will provide residents and businesses with the skills, confidence, devices and the support needed to make the most of digital services.

The council is looking to invest more than £8.1m over the next four years in the strategy and around £3m of this will be invested in the initial delivery phase of the plan spanning the current and next financial year.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Julian Tooke, who is the cabinet member responsible for business and economic development, presented the report at October 21’s cabinet meeting. He said the three elements of the strategy are digital infrastructure, inclusion and innovation.

He said the council is working really hard on digital inclusion and recognises the digital economy is so much a part of the 21st century that no-one should be excluded from it.