Pippa Middleton and husband in row with locals over closed road on their estate

The Princess of Wales’ sibling is at odds with a ramblers group
Pippa Middleton and her husband are at the centre of a planning row after closing a road across their estate, which locals believed made up part of a public footpath.

After Mr Matthews and Ms Middleton moved in, an electric gate with new signs saying “no access” and “no entrance” was reported to have been installed in October 2022, which would stop walkers from reaching an established footpath.

However, West Berkshire Council designated the lane to be part of a public right of way after an application by West Berkshire Ramblers for a definitive map modification order.

This decision is being challenged by the estate – and that challenge will be heard during a public enquiry to be held by the Planning Inspectorate next month.

According to local residents, providing evidence to the public enquiry on behalf of the Ramblers’ Association, the lane is a vital link to the public footpath, which has long been used to get around the village of Kintbury, and they would otherwise have to use a “dangerous road”.

Neil G Lawrence said: “I was always of the belief that this route off of Station Road to the Kintbury footpath was public.

“When planning a walk, and executing a walk, the route looks logical, both on any available map and in reality on the ground.”
Mr Lawrence said that closure of the route would be a “loss of a key local amenity.”
He added: “The alternative route is to walk along a dangerous road where very few refuges for pedestrians are present.”
Another person said: “Until the point in time when a gate was installed across the metalled section of the walk, there were no signs, no gates or stiles of any kind that would impede progress with a pedestrian or dog along any part of this route.

“Over the years, I have seen and spoken with many villagers walking this path and I have always believed the metalled roadway from the entrance to Barton Court to the gate lodge on Station Road was part of the public footpath.”
However, in 2024, Barton Court estate manager Patrick Newnham objected to the designation of the lane as public on the basis that it “has been, and remains, marked as private”.

Mr Matthews’ statement of case to the definitive map modification order stated: “The claimed route does not meet the legal requirements to be a footpath.”
It says that it being used as such would cause “practical/privacy difficulties and security issues for the Objector (Mr Matthews) and his family.”
The case also said signage to control access has been in place “since at least the 1980s”.

Additionally, it stated that other routes are available for walkers in Kintbury, which it claims are more attractive.

“The claimed route is, in contrast, a surfaced drive with unremarkable views on either side that would not lead would-be footpath users anywhere other than Station Road, which has been, at all material times, a busy and unattractive road for the recreational walker or otherwise out to open country (on the other side of Station Road) where there are no convenient routes”, Mr Matthews’ case adds.

The inquiry will begin on 14 May.

The Independent has contacted Barton Court for comment.

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