Pippa Middleton and Husband Secure Ruling Against Public Right of Way Through Their Estate

Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews, have successfully barred the public from using a footpath through their £15 million country estate, Barton Court, located in Berkshire. Middleton argued that the public path posed safety risks for her family. The path, which connects to the village of Kintbury, has been used by locals as an alternative to a busy road with no pavement. Residents claimed that the previous owner, Sir Terence Conran, had kept the path open for public use. However, after purchasing the estate in 2022, the couple installed electric gates and signs prohibiting public access. Thirty-five residents, supported by The Ramblers' Association, appealed to West Berkshire Council to designate the path as a public right of way. Matthews contended that the path had not been used freely for the required 20 years. The planning inspector, Ken Taylor, ruled that while privacy and security concerns could not be used to justify the closure, there was insufficient evidence that the path had been continuously used by walkers for the past two decades. A spokeswoman for the couple expressed gratitude for the consideration given to the case. Local councillor Tony Vickers expressed disappointment in the ruling, noting a lack of strong arguments from Matthews' supporters. The inquiry revealed differing perspectives on the path's historical use, with some locals asserting its importance to the community. Matthews emphasized the need for security due to his family's public profile, while Lady Victoria Conran, the widow of the estate's previous owner, supported the couple's position, stating she rarely saw unauthorized individuals on the property. The planning inspector noted evidence of signage indicating the path's private status dating back to 1983, concluding that the evidence did not support a continuous public right of way.