James Matthews, husband of Pippa Middleton, told a planning inquiry that only a handful of ramblers used a footpath through their £15 million Berkshire estate over three years, as they contest a bid to reopen it to the public, citing security and privacy concerns.
Pippa Middleton 's hedge fund manager husband, James Matthews , has testified at a planning inquiry that only a handful of walkers have used a footpath crossing their £15 million estate in Berkshire over the past three and a half years.
The couple, who reside at the Grade I-listed Barton Court with their three children, are contesting a bid by The Ramblers Association to have the route formally recognised as a public footpath. The dispute centers on a driveway that cuts through their 145-acre property. Residents of the nearby village of Kintbury have accused the couple of arrogance and alienating the community by attempting to close what they claim has long been a cherished public right of way, used for generations.
They assert that the path was left open by the estate's previous owner, the late Sir Terence Conran, with the understanding it could be used by the public. However, Matthews and Middleton, who purchased the property in 2022, maintain it was never a public right of way and argue that keeping it open poses significant security and privacy risks for their family due to their high public profile.
Matthews told the hearing that in his experience since moving in, he had only seen a few walkers on two or three occasions, each of whom he spoke to and explained the path was private. He stated that he granted them one-time permission when asked. He also noted that he saw no public use during his pre-purchase visits and that nothing in the conveyancing process indicated any established public access.
The couple installed electric gates and 'Private: No Public Access' signs upon moving in. The gates were upgraded in summer 2025 after the Ramblers applied for a definitive map modification order in early 2023. Matthews explained the gate is kept shut except for occasional visits by family or friends. He claimed no one from the parish council or village initially approached him with concerns about the gate.
The six-day inquiry, being held in Kintbury village hall, will see West Berkshire Council ultimately decide whether to declare the route private or public. Over thirty-five local residents, supported by the walking charity, have appealed for the lane to be designated a public right of way. Matthews, appearing without his wife at the first four days of the hearing, emphasized the necessity for enhanced security given his family's profile.
He argued that uncontrolled trespass and traffic present foreseeable risks to his young children playing outside. After his testimony, he returned to his seat and gave a thumbs-up to someone in the audience. A representative for the couple stated that James Matthews has the right to create a safe environment on his private property, away from such risks. The hearing continues amid ongoing local discontent over the potential loss of a pathway many consider a village asset
Pippa Middleton James Matthews Barton Court Footpath Dispute Public Right Of Way Kintbury The Ramblers Planning Inquiry Security Berkshire Sir Terence Conran
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Pippa Middleton's husband fights to keep footpath privatePippa Middleton's husband, James Matthews, has told a planning inquiry that only a handful of ramblers have used a footpath through the couple's £15million estate in three years. The couple is fighting a bid to reopen the footpath to walkers, citing security and privacy concerns due to their high public profile.
Read more »