New row as locals fume at Kate Middleton's sister after sudden closure on estate

New row as locals fume at Kate Middleton's sister after sudden closure on estateFury grows as locals clash with James Matthews and Pippa Middleton over a blocked Berkshire footpath, with safety fears rising and campaigners warning it's part of a wider access crisisCommentsNewsCally Brooks Features Writer07:00, 12 Apr 2026View 5 ImagesKate's sister Pippa is at the centre of a local dispute(Image: Alamy Stock Photo)A bitter row is brewing in the Berkshire countryside, and this time, it's a royal-adjacent dispute that's left locals fuming.‌Residents in the village of Kintbury have hit out after a long-used walking route was suddenly shut 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 heart of the dispute is Mill Lane, a quiet access route locals say they've used for decades to reach nearby footpaths, the village centre and St Mary's Church. The lane runs alongside the sprawling Barton Court Estate - a £15 million property featuring a 32-room Georgian mansion and more than 100 acres of land on the banks of the River Kennet.‌READ MORE: Kate Middleton gets huge boost after sad family burden as she lays down strict rulesREAD MORE: Pippa Middleton’s hidden support role - from Kate's cancer statement to entertaining kidsView 5 ImagesPippa Middleton and James Matthews married in 2017(Image: Getty)But tensions flared after the couple reportedly installed electric gates shortly after buying the estate in 2022, blocking off access to the lane. Warning signs soon followed, declaring the route private and off-limits to the public.In 2024, James, 50, submitted a highway declaration notice stating that Mill Lane was not accessible to the public.‌For residents, the impact has resulted in potentially dangerous walking routes to get around the lane closure. Locals claim the closure has forced walkers onto a narrow country road with no pavement, raising s...