TOTTENHAM Hotspur Football Club is keeping the wind, rain and snow at bay from its Chigwell training complex and hopes it will be able to do so next year.

It has applied to Epping Forest District Council for permission to keep using a giant air tent, which covers the facility, until 2012 when it moves to a �45million complex in Enfield.

Approval for the air hall, at Luxborough Lane, which is used by academy players and youngsters who would otherwise be unable to practise after dark, depends on the council agreeing to the details of their on-going community-based sports programme.

In the past five years the community project has provided initiatives to get residents interested in sports, including free weekly sessions for youngsters at Limes Farm Estate, Chigwell.

James Warwick, sports and health development manager at the council, said: “The partnership enables us to make a difference in people’s lives and provide positive activities for local communities.

“As a result of the Limes Farm project two young people from the estate have been mentored and trained by the foundation and are now qualified football coaches, working on the estate and employed by Tottenham Hotpsur Foundation.”

Grant Cornwell, foundation chief executive, said the club is dedicated to maintaining the community programmes even after its big move.

He said: “During the many years we have been at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell, we have built up strong working relationships with the local authority and schools, and have delivered a number of highly successful partnership projects in the area, including HOPE (Helping Older People Exercise), estates-based social inclusion projects and a number of healthy living projects with local schools.

“Tottenham Hotspur remains committed to this long term partnership with the local community and to developing mutually beneficial projects that will continue after the club has moved to its new training centre in Enfield.”