Inspector rules Middleton driveway not public footpath

A planning inspector has ruled that a driveway at the Berkshire estate of Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews is not a public footpath, ending a legal dispute with local walkers. The decision, issued on September 15, 2026, means the route through their property, Barton Court, will not be recorded as a public right of way. The dispute began after the couple installed an electric security gate on the driveway in September 2022, shortly after purchasing the estate. The West Berkshire Ramblers subsequently applied in January 2023 to legally recognize the path as a public footpath, arguing it provided a crucial link for walkers connecting outlying areas to the village church. At a public inquiry held in May, planning inspector Kenneth Taylor considered evidence from both sides. James Matthews testified that there was no indication of public use when he bought the property and that the gate was installed due to his family's high public profile requiring enhanced security. He stated he had seen only a handful of people on the drive in three-and-a-half years.