Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews are embroiled in a planning inquiry over a footpath that crosses their 145-acre Barton Court estate in Kintbury, Berkshire. The couple, who purchased the Georgian manor in 2022 for £15.5 million, have blocked the path, citing privacy and security concerns. However, a group of over 30 locals, supported by the Ramblers charity, are fighting to have the route officially recognized as a public right of way, arguing it has been used without interruption for decades.
Background of the Dispute
The couple erected signs reading "Private: No Public Access" and "No Trespassing" shortly after buying the property, preventing walkers from using the lane. The previous owner, the late retail tycoon Sir Terence Conran, reportedly allowed locals to use the path, but Pippa and Matthews claim it was never a public route. West Berkshire Council initially ruled in favor of the residents' application for a public right of way, a decision that Matthews challenged, leading to the current six-day public inquiry.
Legal Arguments at the Inquiry
At the inquiry, which began yesterday, government-appointed planning inspector Ken Taylor stated that privacy and security issues are beyond the scope of the hearing. Instead, the case will be decided based on whether the public used the route sufficiently during a 20-year period from 2002 to 2022 to establish legal rights of access. Paul Wilmhurst, barrister for Matthews, argued that not enough people used the path to qualify it as a public footpath. He said: "It's not a question of whether it's a good or a bad thing. It works based on the history of the land, based on how people have used it. It has certainly not been used by a significant number of people from the village of Kintbury. It doesn't lead anywhere particularly useful."
Residents' Testimonies
Several residents spoke in support of maintaining access. Samuel Robins, a lifelong Kintbury resident, told the inquiry: "It's a calm and attractive walk. I've never been stopped or asked to turn around." Others highlighted the path as a safer alternative to walking along a nearby main road without pavements. Sophie Redmond, programme manager for paths at the Ramblers, said the lane had "been walked by the community for more than 20 years without interruption," which she argued creates a legal right of way. She added that blocked paths across the country are limiting public access to nature and green spaces.
Couple's Defence
A spokesperson for Pippa and Matthews maintained that there has never been a public footpath on the land. They stated: "For as long as records exist, there has never been a footpath/public right of way on the land currently under discussion. There are other clearly marked footpaths nearby. Contrary to media reports, the previous owners of the property from as far back as the 1970s did not allow public access to the land under discussion. It has always been private property." One resident, speaking to The Sun, expressed frustration: "It's entitled wealthy individuals taking away a right of way from the community. It shows they don't want to be friendly neighbours."
The inquiry is expected to conclude after six days, with a decision to be announced at a later date.
