HUNDREDS of dancers employed by strip and lapdancing clubs are to stage a protest in Glasgow over council plans which could lead to venues being shut down.

Powers now available to the council include requiring Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) to be licensed and the ability to put a cap on the number of licences issued in the city.

Legislation allows for setting the cap at zero, effectively banning clubs from operating.

The consultation is asking the public’s views on what the appropriate number of SEVs should be.There are currently four strip and lapdancing clubs in Glasgow.

Dancers who are part of the Empowered Woman Project are planning to stage a demonstration on Saturday in George Square in protest over possible job losses if new laws result in clubs being shut down.

Read more: Public consultation launched on licensing of sexual entertainment venues 

More than 3,000 people have signed a supportive petition, which will be delivered to the council by former dancer Mandy Rose Jones, who launched the project.

She said: "There are roughly 700 dancers across Scotland and we want to use our platform and voices to show solidarity to dancers during the ongoing public consultation. 

"It's the public’s opinion which matters here and there has been a massive response to our petition.

Read more: Calls for tougher lap dancing rules in Glasgow 

"Sandra White MSP has been vocal about her desire to ban the clubs but what she fails to realise is that doing this will push women out of jobs and potentially into unsafe situations and environments as they try to replicate their income or meet the demand for adult entertainment venues underground without security and support.

"My sign on Saturday will say “My body, my choice."

Members of the public can contribute the consultation at licensingenquiries@glasgow.gov.uk