The Princess of Wales’s sister moved to Windsor in 2022

A long-running dispute over public footpath access at Pippa and James Matthews’s Berkshire estate is heading towards a crucial public inquiry next month.

The Princess of Wales’s sister and her financier husband purchased Barton Court, valued at £15million, from Sir Terence Conran and subsequently closed off a walking route across the 145-acre property.

 

Local campaigners have since challenged this decision, with West Berkshire District Council ultimately backing residents who wish to use the path.

The couple shares the estate with their three children, Arthur, seven, Grace, five, and Rose, three.

Pippa Middleton

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The public inquiry is scheduled to take place from May 13 to 15 through the West Berkshire District Council, and the prospect has caused considerable unease among some residents.

Liberal Democrat councillor Tony Vickers, who resides approximately 15 minutes from the estate, has stepped forward to assist those feeling daunted by the formal proceedings.

Writing on the Kintbury Village Facebook page, he stated: “If anyone submitted written evidence to West Berks Council or Ramblers claiming they used the route on foot between 2002 and 2022 but doesn’t want to speak and potentially face cross examination by a barrister acting for the landowner, feel free to contact me.”

Mr Vickers emphasised his role in representing constituents and supporting the council’s decision to issue the Path Order last year, noting his previous experience at such hearings, adding: “They can be quite intimidating.”

Barton Court Estate

The Barton Court Estate website shows pictures of the Georgian property | BARTON COURT ESTATE

The West Berkshire Ramblers has raised safety concerns about the closure, forcing pedestrians onto roads.

Eugene Futcher, the group’s chairman, told The Times: “It is a safe way to get to and from the village, so walkers are put at risk if they have to use the road.”

The Ramblers Association has highlighted broader inequalities, noting that residents in less affluent areas are disproportionately affected by a lack of safe, accessible paths to green spaces.

Despite the ongoing footpath controversy, the couple received welcome news in February regarding separate planning matters.

Pippa Middleton
Pippa and Carole Middleton at the Together at Christmas Carol Service in 2024 | GETTY

Pippa Middleton

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West Berkshire District Council approved their application for an extension and internal alterations to the property, following discussions about potential disturbance to Palaeolithic artefacts during construction.

The approval stipulates that building work must begin within three years.

The planning permission represents a positive development for the Matthews family amid the continuing access dispute, which has seen local walking groups and elected representatives align against the landowners’ position on the contested route through their estate.

West Berkshire Council declined to comment when approached by GB News, as this matter is subject to a live process and is currently with the Planning Inspectorate for determination.