Pippa Middleton and James Matthews' idyllic £15.5 million estate is where they live with their three children, Arthur, Grace and Rose, but as well as being their family sanctuary, it is also the epicentre of an ongoing neighbourhood dispute. Locals have been requesting access to a public footpath which crosses into their land, but the Matthewses are denying access. In fresh comments made by a representative for the couple, they claim that a public footpath has "never" existed there, and that is why they won't permit it.
Pippa and James put up "no trespassing signs" upon their arrival at Barton Court in 2022, and do not allow walkers to pass. It has previously been widely reported that the former owner of the mansion, Sir Terence Conran, did allow walkers to use the path, but the couple now fiercely deny this to be the case.
© Photo: Getty ImagesA spokesperson told The Telegraph that the area in question has always been private property for as long as records exist.
Paul Wilmshurst, James' barrister explained that the path was not regularly used by enough people to warrant it being a public footpath. He reported: "It's not a question of whether it's a good or a bad thing. It works based on the history of the land, based on how people have used it.
"It has certainly not been used by a significant number of people from the village of Kintbury. It doesn't lead anywhere particularly useful."
© Getty ImagesLocals weigh in
The West Berkshire Ramblers are a group of nearby walkers who campaign to open up paths that are currently 'access denied'. A statement on the Ramblers Association website reads: "Across Britain, people in less well-off communities are more likely to lack safe, accessible paths that connect them to green space near where they live. This isn't just unfair, it's unhealthy. And it's deepening existing health and wellbeing inequalities."
West Berkshire Council chairman Tony Vickers is representing locals in the debate. He has said: "As one of the elected councillors representing residents of the parish on West Berkshire Council, I have registered with the Planning Inspectorate to put the case to the Independent Inspector who will preside over the Inquiry and decide.
© Alamy Stock Photo"I very much support this short link being added to the local path network, mainly because Station Road is extremely dangerous and currently the only non-motorised route linking the village to outlying areas north of the railway."
The public inquiry is due to conclude on 15 May. At present, the council have been siding with walkers, but the Matthews family are keen to push back on the decision.
