Pippa Middleton Estate in Footpath Access Dispute

Pippa Middleton and her husband, James Matthews, are at the center of a dispute with local residents and authorities over access to a countryside lane on their Berkshire estate, which has been used for decades as a public footpath. The couple's decision to close the entrance to Mill Lane at Barton Court in 2022 has sparked objections from villagers in Kintbury, who argue the route provides a safe connection to nearby paths and avoids a hazardous main road.

The 32-room Georgian mansion, purchased for around 15 million in 2022, spans 145 acres along the River Kennet. Shortly after moving in from London with their three children, Matthews and Middleton installed an electric gate and signage declaring the lane private, blocking walkers from reaching an established footpath. Local residents and the West Berkshire Ramblers group contend the lane has been openly traversed since the 1960s, with no prior barriers under the previous owner, designer Sir Terence Conran, who kept gates open.

West Berkshire Council recently confirmed Mill Lane as a public right of way following an application by the ramblers to modify the definitive map. The decision recognizes the route's historical use for...