Catherine's brother-in-law James Matthews fears security risk in path row

The Princess of Wales's brother-in-law has said allowing a public footpath on his estate would cause "very real" security issues and that any use has been too infrequent to justify it. James Matthews moved with Catherine's sister Pippa to Barton Court in Kintbury, Berkshire, in autumn 2022. He installed an electric security gate in September 2022, which prompted the West Berkshire Ramblers group to apply to legally recognise the path, which is about 285m (935ft) long, in January 2023. West Berkshire Council found the route was "reasonably alleged to exist as a public right of way" but Matthews has objected. On the final day of a public inquiry, Paul Wilmshurst, for Matthews, said the ramblers group had "struggled to show the required use". Legally, a public footpath can be "deemed to exist" if it has been used for an "uninterrupted [20-year] period, without force, secrecy or permission". A path can also be designated if there is evidence that a landowner has allocated the land for that purpose and that it has been publicly used. In a written submission, Matthews said public recognition "would cause very real practical/privacy difficulties and security issues" for him and his family