Pippa Middleton and husband block footpath that gave public ‘unfettered access’

The general public has had use of country lane ‘for decades, if not centuries’. Pippa Middleton and her husband are locked in a planning row with villagers after cutting off public access to a footpath on their estate. The Princess of Wales ’ sister and James Matthews moved into the residence in Kintbury, West Berkshire, two years ago.

The 58ha property was formerly owned by the late design tycoon Sir Terence Conran, who had allowed locals to use the country lane leading up to the Georgian mansion’s driveway. But Middleton and Matthews have since erected a gate and put up signs saying: “Private: No Public Access” and “No Trespassing”..