Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews are reportedly at the centre of a dispute with villagers in Berkshire over the use of a footpath leading to their £15 million country estate. The couple, who moved into the property two years ago, have erected signs reading 'Private: No Public Access' and 'No Trespassing', breaking with the convention set by the previous owner, Sir Terence Conran.
Sir Terence, a renowned designer and restaurateur, had allowed locals to use the country lane that leads to the Georgian mansion's private drive for 50 years. The change has reportedly frustrated residents who now find themselves unable to access the once popular footpath.
One villager told MailOnline: 'I like to walk, and I don't see why I can't walk there. I have been walking along there for 50 years. When Sir Terence had it, he had no objections. I think we should have a right to roam.' Another added: 'It feels they are depriving the village of an amenity. People might get the impression they are throwing their weight around.'
It is understood that the access is not a public right of way, and permission for public use is at the discretion of the landowner. West Berkshire Council is currently reviewing an application by a local walking group to designate the access as a right of way, which would legally require the couple to allow public passage.
Ms Middleton, the younger sister of the Princess of Wales, married Mr Matthews, a hedge fund manager and former racing driver, in 2017. The couple have not commented on the reports, and the exact location of their home has not been disclosed beyond it being in a village in west Berkshire.
