KINVER business bosses have joined forces to show the village is open to visitors after being hit by trade-battering road works over the last two years.

South Staffordshire’s local tourism chief - Councillor Bob McCardle, Councillor Brian Edwards, Kinver Business Association chairman Andy Calloway, Loyds Bank regional director Brian Cartwright and South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson were among those attending the Kinver is Open launch event on Friday October 25.

The event, held at Dunsley Hall Hotel, was organised to promote business and tourism in Kinver and to show it’s back to business in the village following completion of new road improvements in the High Street.

Mr Williamson said the promotional event was a “wonderful idea” and added: “This village has a huge amount to offer visitors and, with the recent road works now complete, it was the ideal time to show the world that Kinver is open for business.”

Village businesses were encouraged to dress up their windows and put up decorations to support the occasion which also showcased major plans to extend historic Dunsley Hall and create 26 extra bedrooms plus a spa, conference and function room.

The first phase of the remodelling project is creating 33 new jobs and by the time the entire scheme is complete it is expected that up to 60 new posts will have been generated.

Mr Williamson added: “I welcome the jobs the extension of Dunsley Hall Hotel will bring to the village and believe this project is just the first of many good things that will happen to Kinver and the surrounding area over the coming months.”

Dunsley Hall director Terrie Beardsmore said tourist chiefs see Kinver and the popular boutique hotel as “the gateway to Staffordshire tourism” and said guests from all over the world stay at the hotel.

It is hoped the extension will further boost tourism in the area, she said - adding: “We are all excited about this and grateful for the help we have had from Gavin Williamson.

“We were really surprised that he personally wrote to banks on our behalf as he knows what Dunsley Hall has done so far and what we can achieve for the local area.”

Terrie and husband Wilf, who run the hotel with their son Simon, unveiled plans for the expansion three years ago but have only just secured part funding to get the first stage of the work underway which will see old garages and outbuildings removed and new drainage put in for the planned spa.

The walled garden is also being refurbished and new herb gardens planted as part of phase one, while landscaping at the rear of the hall and the large carparking area is also progressing.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by next summer.