James Matthews, the husband of Pippa Middleton, testified at a planning inquiry that only a handful of walkers used a footpath crossing their £15 million Berkshire estate over the past three and a half years.. The couple, who live at the Grade I-listed Barton Court with their three children, are opposing an application by The Ramblers Association to have the route officially recognised as a public footpath. The six-day hearing, held in Kintbury village hall, will determine whether the driveway through their 145-acre property remains private or becomes a public right of way.

James Matthews’ Testimony: Only Two or Three Walkers in Three Years

According to Matthews’ testimony, since moving in he had seen walkers on only two or three occasions, each time speaking to them and explaining the path was private. He stated he granted them one-time permission when asked. Matthews also noted that during pre-purchase visits he saw no public use, and nothing in the conveyancing process indicated any established access. The couple installed electric gates and “Private: No Public Access” signs upon moving in, with the gates upgraded in summer 2025 after The Ramblers applied for a definitive map modification order in early 2023.

The Ramblers’ Claim and the Village Backlash of 35 Local Supporters

More than thirty-five local residents,supported by The Ramblers Association, have appealed for the lane to be designated a public right of way. They contend that the path was left open by the estate’s previous owner, the late Sir Terence Conran, with the understanding that it could be used by the public. Residents of nearby Kintbury have accused the couple of arrogance and alienating the community by attempting to close what they claim has been a cherished public route for generations. The report says the hearing continues amid ongoing local discontent over the potential loss of a pathway many consider a village asset.

Security vs. Public Access: The Core Tension at the Six-Day Inquiry

Matthews argued that uncontrolled trespass and traffic present foreseeable risks to his young children playing outside, emphasizing the necessity for enhanced security given his family’s high public profile. He appeared without his wife for the first four days of the hearing, and after his testimony 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 inquiry, which will see West Berkshire Council ultimately decide the route’s status, pits the family’s privacy concerns against the public’s claim to a historic walking path.

What the Conveyancing Documents Do — and Don’t — Reveal

Matthews testified that nothing in the conveyancing process indicated any established public access, a key point in the couple’s defense.. However, local residents assert the path was used freely under Sir Terence Conran’s ownership, raising questions about whether any informal agreement existed. The Ramblers’ application for a definitive map modification order suggests that the route may meet legal criteria for public status, even if not formally recorded. The absence of any recorded right of way in the title deeds does not necessarily settle the matter, as histoical use can sometimes establish rights. The hearing leaves unclear why no one from the parish council or village initially approached Matthews with concerns about the gates, as he claimed.