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A dispute is unfolding in the Berkshire countryside, and this time it involves a royal-adjacent controversy that has left local residents frustrated.
People living in the village of Kintbury have voiced their anger after a well-used walking route was suddenly closed off near a luxury estate owned by James Matthews — the husband of Pippa Middleton and brother-in-law to Catherine, Princess of Wales.
At the centre of the disagreement is Mill Lane, a quiet access path that locals say they have relied on for decades to reach nearby footpaths, the village centre and St Mary’s Church.
The lane runs alongside the expansive Barton Court Estate — a £15 million property that includes a 32-room Georgian mansion and more than 100 acres of land along the River Kennet.
Tensions escalated after the couple reportedly installed electric gates soon after purchasing the estate in 2022, effectively blocking access to the lane. Warning signs were later put up, stating that the route was private and not open to the public.
In 2024, James, 50, submitted a highway declaration notice asserting that Mill Lane was not a public right of way.
Residents say the closure has had serious consequences, forcing walkers onto a narrow country road without a pavement, raising significant safety concerns.
Local resident Neil G Lawrence said: “I was always of the belief that this route off of Station Road to the Kintbury footpath was public. When planning a walk, and executing a walk, the route looks logical, both on any available map and in reality on the ground.”
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Campaigners say the route had long served as a safer option, allowing residents to avoid traffic while moving between key areas of the village.
Eugene Futcher, chairman of West Berkshire Ramblers, warned that removing access puts people “at risk,” stressing that the path has been regularly used by locals for generations.
The disagreement has now developed into a formal dispute over public access rights.
Campaigners argue that since the route has been openly used for more than 20 years, it should legally be recognised as a public right of way. However, the matter is currently under appeal, with a final decision expected from the Planning Inspectorate.
The controversy has also attracted wider attention from the walking charity The Ramblers.
Sophie Redmond, Programme Manager for Paths, said the situation highlights a broader national problem. She explained that “thousands of miles of local paths are missing, blocked or unusable,” preventing people from accessing routes they are legally entitled to use.
Referring specifically to Mill Lane, she added that evidence shows it has been used by the community “for over 20 years without interruption,” suggesting the public should retain the right to walk there.
She also warned that the closure has forced residents onto a “busy road with no pedestrian path,” underlining the real safety concerns created by the loss of access.
While neither James nor Pippa has commented publicly, some locals believe the decision may be linked to privacy concerns following the purchase of the estate five years after their wedding.
Feelings in the village are said to be divided. Evidence presented to Kintbury Parish Council revealed that some residents avoided the lane due to signage, while others insisted it had been freely used for years.
Despite differing views, the council ultimately supported its designation as a public right of way. According to Redmond, the dispute in Berkshire is far from an isolated case.
Across Britain, access to local green spaces is becoming more limited, with blocked pathways increasingly affecting communities — particularly those in less affluent areas.
“This isn’t just unfair, it’s unhealthy,” she said, warning that reduced access to nature is widening inequalities in both health and wellbeing.
The Ramblers’ Access Denied campaign is now calling for stronger protections and the expansion of walking networks to ensure communities can safely access green spaces.
Eugene Futcher, chairman of West Berkshire Ramblers, said residents have enjoyed “unfettered access” to the lane since the 1960s. Speaking to The Times, he added: “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.”
