'CATASTROPHIC' effects of High Speed Two will place severe pressure on the Harefield Dogs Trust putting at risk their efforts to rehome loving pets.

For the high speed line to be built, Harvil Road, Harefield, where the centre is based, will have to be dug up and re-routed.

The 250mph line stands to go through Harvil Road, so the road must be raised, for a bridge to be built over the line. Making a bridge for the line would mean the train would lose its trajectory and speed, so it is the road which must make way. These works will mean the loss of around 3,000 trees.

The road will also be reconfigured 45 degrees west, rejoining a path at Dews Farm.

The heavy works mean the Dogs Trust's entrance is being moved, with the construction elements of the works alone severely compromising the centre's work. The trust described the plans as being 'very intrusive'.

Giles Webber, Dogs Trust operations manager, said: "What we can see at the moment is that it will cause a real impact. We are very concerned about the construction of the line and the finer details that will bring.

"Our access will be severely compromised, and this will affect everyone from our staff, to our suppliers, to our teams transporting the dogs to the centre and most importantly the ability of members of the public. Visitor numbers are crucial to us rehoming dogs and its critical we are able to maintain these.

"In terms of how we are affected by construction it could be a wide range of possibilities, it could be minimal, which is unlikely as they are re-routing Harvil Road, to being catastrophic.

"Of course once it is built how we are affected could depend on what it looks like, but it will have a knock on effect on us and make life difficult. On the noise side it will have an increased negative impact on the dogs and our members of staff who spend a lot of time outside walking them and carrying out behavioural training."

It begs the question, would the Dogs Trust consider relocating elsewhere and leaving Harefield entirely?

"We don't know if it would go as far as that (moving) it would be along way down the line to discuss that, but we are in Harefield for a reason, that people need to look after dogs in this area. Working with local people on this is important to us, we have a clear interest to remain part of the fabric of this village.

"We will be responding to the Department of Transport's consultation, and will be investigating the details further, to see what it is likely to throw up, in terms of linking with local groups and speaking to MPs all options are open to us."