A public inquiry in mid-May will decide whether part of the drive to Pippa Middleton's Barton Court home in Kintbury from Station Road becomes a public right of way.
The 300m link is disputed by Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews. West Berkshire Council chairman and keen rambler Tony Vickers has emerged as the main spokesperson fighting for the route.
The landowner has gathered more than 40 witnesses who say the track was never public or much used. West Berkshire Ramblers have collected evidence that people used the path without hindrance for the previous 20 years.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 says presumed dedication needs uninterrupted use "as of right" by the public over 20 years to become a right of way.
The case will be argued by a barrister for Ramblers UK and a barrister for the Barton Court Estate; both sides can call witnesses. The council is neutral. The inquiry starts on May 13 and is expected to take a few days.
After buying Barton Court in 2022 the owner installed locked gates at the Station Road end. By late 2024 the council declared, subject to inquiry, that the route deserved to be added to the Definitive Map of West Berkshire's public footpaths.
"As one of the elected councillors representing residents of the parish on West Berkshire Council, I have registered with the Planning Inspectorate to put the case to the Independent Inspector who will preside over the Inquiry and decide," said Mr Vickers.
"I very much support this short link being added to the local path network, mainly because Station Road is extremely dangerous and currently the only non-motorised route linking the village to outlying areas north of the railway."
"The owner of Barton Court has objected to my council's decision," he continued.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
