James Matthews, the husband of Pippa Middleton and brother-in-law of the Princess of Wales, is contesting a proposal to designate part of his private driveway as a public footpath. The dispute, which is being heard at a planning inquiry in Kintbury, West Berkshire, centres on an electric security gate installed at his £15 million property, Barton Court, in September 2022.
The West Berkshire Ramblers group applied for a definitive map modification order in January 2023, claiming the route has been used by the public for over 20 years. Following an investigation, West Berkshire District Council found that the route was 'reasonably alleged to exist as a public right of way'. Matthews, a hedge fund manager, argues that the gate is necessary for his family's security due to their high public profile.
Speaking at the inquiry on Thursday, Matthews stated that he had seen only a handful of people using the drive in three-and-a-half years, and that when he spoke to them, they acknowledged it was not a public footpath. He also noted that the gate had not raised objections from the local parish council or neighbours. The council's case relies on the legal principle that a public footpath can be established if it has been used without interruption for 20 years.
David Hill, former estate manager at Barton Court, told the inquiry that he rarely encountered people on the drive and would inform them it was private. A spokesperson for the Matthews family emphasised that there has never been a public right of way on the land and that other footpaths are clearly marked nearby. The inquiry continues.
