Pippa Middleton and financier James Matthews are facing criticism in Berkshire over a blocked footpath on their Barton Court estate. The lane, used by many residents as a safer route into Kintbury, was shut after the couple bought the Grade I-listed property in 2022. Gates and warning signs now bar entry at both ends. The dispute has grown into a formal inquiry, with locals arguing the path served the community for decades and the couple insisting it is private land tied to their home, children, and security needs.
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Pippa Middleton and James Matthews Defend Privacy
At the center of the case is Mill Lane, a route that links a country road to a causeway leading toward the village. Supporters of access say it helps walkers avoid Station Road, a narrow stretch with blind bends, traffic, and no pavement. James Matthews attended the hearing and argued that opening the lane would create practical problems around privacy and security. According to Daily Mail, some residents believe Pippa Middleton’s link to Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been used to strengthen that argument, though the legal test is focused on access history rather than status.
Kintbury Residents Describe a Long-Used Route
Several locals told the inquiry they had walked the lane for years without being challenged. Footpath secretary Neil Pike said, "Until recently I have never known Mill Lane to be closed for any reason," according to Daily Mail. He also argued that losing the route would leave Station Road as the only option, which he said was unsafe. Another witness, Samuel Robins, said he had never been told to turn back. Their case rests on the claim that the public enjoyed open use of the lane over a long period.
Planning Inspector Focuses on Rights of Way Law
The hearing is being decided under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which can allow a private path to become a public right of way after 20 years of uninterrupted public use. That legal threshold is now central. Barrister Paul Wilmshurst, representing Matthews, argued in written submissions that the route has long had the reputation of being a private drive. He also pointed to interruptions in access, including a rail bridge closure in 2016 and locked gates after damage years later, in an effort to challenge the 20-year claim.
Barton Court Dispute Deepens Local Tensions
The row has exposed wider frustration in the village. Councillor Tony Vickers said, "The path has been used for generations but money talks," according to Daily Mail. Others accused the couple of dividing the community, while one resident contrasted them with previous owner Sir Terence Conran, whose estate was seen by some as more open. A spokesperson for Middleton and Matthews rejected the claims, saying there has never been a public right of way on the land and that signs marking it as private have existed for decades. The inspector’s ruling will determine whether the lane stays shut.
