CLUBS are calling for new laws protecting them against noise pollution claims.

They want MSPs to introduce new measures in planning laws to defend them from complaints about noise pollution from housing developments.

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Sub Club SWG3, the O2 Academy and the O2 ABC are backing Agent of Change - a campaign calling on MSPs support.

They say venues can spend vast fortunes in sound proofing when confronted by complaints about loud music, something forcing them to close.

The Agent of Change principle has been led by the charity Music Venue Trust, and has now been debated in the UK Parliament, with John Spellar MP introducing a private member’s bill to bring it into UK law.

Among the high profile supporters are the singer Frank Turner as well as Sir Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, Craig David, Sandie Shaw, Ray Davies, Feargal Sharkey and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.

Now the campaign in Scotland is urging venue owners, gig-goers and music fans to lobby the Local Government Committee of the Scottish Parliament to consider the measure.

Mike Grieve, the managing director of Sub Club, said: “Nightlife is a massive contributor to the cultural wellbeing of our city.

“It’s vital that Glasgow’s creative community is protected from the threat posed by developers, many of whom seem apathetic to the concerns of music and arts venues, some of which may well be forced to close due to inadequate soundproofing in proposed new buildings.

“The ‘agent of change’ principle has been adopted into planning guidance in England and Wales, and has now passed through a second reading in the UK Parliament.

“Scottish planning guidance must be brought into line urgently if we want to avoid losing the venues which create the very conditions which most appeal to visitors to the city in the first place.”

Edinburgh has lost a string of medium-sized venues in recent years. One in particular, Studio 24 which was based on Calton Road and closed in May last year, said it had spent “thousands upon thousands in sound proofing and legal fees in order to stay open”.

The Agent of Change campaign in Scotland says that “if there is an application to build flats next to a music venue, the developer isn’t responsible for putting measures in place to limit any impact on their development from the existing venue (e.g. soundproofing rooms). “Instead, the venue must work to reduce their impact on the new build (e.g. reducing their noise, closing earlier, etc).

“This often leads to venues receiving complaints and having to put costly measures in place to ensure new residents are happy.

“In more extreme cases, it can lead to venue closure.”

The campaign hopes that with the Agent of Change principle in place, “developers would have to take on these responsibilities and weigh up their impact on both pre-existing and new builds, before going ahead with their plans.”

The campaign in Scotland is so far being led by venues in Glasgow, which is a designed Unesco City of Music.

Music tourism is estimated to be worth around £160 million to the city.