LOCAL communities will be celebrating the ban on fracking. The prospect of up to 600 wells being sunk in the Forth Valley was a major threat to both our local environment and efforts to tackle climate change.

In 2014, my colleague Alison Johnstone MSP moved a motion to ban fracking at Holyrood. Only the Greens voted in favour but now all parties, except the Tories, back a ban.

It’s been a long campaign, but the voice of communities has finally won through.

But we are not quite over the line. The ban is simply an extension of a moratorium set up in 2015 that was only ever designed to be temporary.

Clackmannanshire Council’s planning department was sent a letter at the time and asked to not make decisions on any applications for fracking while the Scottish Government ran a public consultation and decided what to do next.

Now that national consultation has finished and the government has made up its mind, councils have been written to again and told to just keep the brake on decision-making ‘indefinitely’.

I’m not convinced this approach would stand up in court, especially if challenged by companies who hold licenses to drill. There is also no reason why a different government couldn’t reverse the ‘ban’ with one signature after the next election.

There is a national ban on new nuclear power stations in Scotland, but it’s on a stronger footing and is reflected in Scotland’s National Planning Framework. Putting the fracking ban on the same footing will get us the permanent legally robust ban we need.

You can discuss the fracking ban and the future of energy at a public meeting with myself, Patrick Harvie MSP and Green activists on Monday November 6, Alloa Town Hall, 7pm. All welcome!

I was delighted to visit the The Gate Charity in Alloa last week and learn about their inspiring work supporting families from providing food, to new home starter packs and school uniforms.

Meals provided to people referred to the food bank have gone up from just over 20,000 in 2013 to over 70,000 last year.

That’s a big success, but also a very worrying indicator of just how many people are stuck in the poverty trap.

I’m planning to hold some surgery drop-ins at the café in the months ahead, watch the Advertiser for dates appearing.

You can contact me via email mark.ruskell.msp@parliament.scot or phone on 01786 448203. My Stirling office on 67a King Street is also open on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and you can drop in to book appointments.

You can also catch my speeches, campaigns and other work on Facebook – Mark Ruskell MSP – Scottish Greens and on Twitter @markruskell