Pippa Middleton faces anxious wait as planning inspector weights up evidence in bitter legal dispute

A planning inspector has now withdrawn to weigh up the evidence in a contentious dispute over a footpath that crosses the Berkshire estate belonging to the Princess of Wales's sister and her husband.Ken Taylor, the inspector overseeing the case, conducted a site visit at Barton Court in Kintbury late last week following hearings at the village's Coronation Hall.The inquiry examined whether a route through the property should be formally recognised as a public right of way.Pippa Matthews and her hedge fund manager husband James argue their prominent family connections necessitate enhanced security measures at the estate. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Walking enthusiasts maintain the path has long been accessible to the public and should remain so.The inspector's conclusions are typically published within approximately six weeks.The couple wed in May 2017 and relocated to the Kintbury property during autumn 2022.Prior to taking up residence, Mr Matthews arranged for an electric security gate to be fitted on the driveway, with the installation completed in September of that year.This prompted the West Berkshire Ramblers to submit an application for a definitive map modification order in January 2023, seeking official recognition of a public footpath across the land.West Berkshire Council examined the matter and determined that the route was reasonably alleged to exist as a public right of way based on evidence, legislation and case law.Mr Matthews lodged an objection, maintaining that nothing during the conveyancing process when he acquired the property had indicated any public usage of the drive.Addressing the inquiry, Mr Matthews explained that his family's elevated public profile created particular security requirements that would not apply under ordinary circumstances.He stated: There are implications for my family, due to their high public profile, which means there is a need for a higher level of security than would otherwise be the case if the circumstances were different.The hedge fund boss told the hearing he had observed only a small number of people walking along the drive on perhaps two or three occasions over the past three-and-a-half years.On each instance, he said he informed them it was private property and they accepted it was not a public footpath.Mr Matthews noted that when the gate was erected, neither the parish council nor local residents raised any concerns about its presence.Security at the Station Road entrance was further upgraded during summer 2025, with those gates also now kept shut.The Matthews family's legal representative, barrister Paul Wilmshurst, sought to undermine testimony from individuals who claimed to have walked the route for more than three decades.He characterised their recollections of using the paths during childhood as unreliable, describing such claims as unconscious exaggeration.Honestly held and fixed opinions of someone's childhood are often wrong, when given decades later, he argued, emphasising repeatedly that historical use of a route does not automatically establish it as a public right of way.Emma Rowland, acting for the ramblers, countered that throughout the years of claimed usage, not a single person had reported being prevented or turned away from the path.She maintained this demonstrated the route should continue to be available for public access.Local residents submitted written evidence supporting the ramblers' position.Trevor Coles stated: Past proprietors of Barton Court have always respected the authenticity and value of this right of way and it is only since new owners have been in residence that obstructions have appeared.He added that he had no memory of any hindrance ever being placed in the way of locals and walkers.Neal James Pike expressed bewilderment at the attempt to close Mill Lane, noting it had served the walking public for decades and would disrupt access to the village and surrounding countryside.David Hill, who managed the estate from 2016 to 2022, told the inquiry he encountered walkers only occasionally, estimating perhaps one person every two to three months, always individuals rather than groups. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter