In the 1920s, aided by government grants, the council made a start on clearing the slums. This was aided by the decline in the use of coal as a fuel for ships. The slums were demolished, and the inhabitants were rehoused in new houses in the Britannia Avenue area, to the west of the old village or hamlet of Townstal. The process was interrupted by the second world war, but was resumed with the construction of many prefabs, and later more houses. Community facilities were minimal at first, but a central area was reserved for a church, which was used by the Baptists and opened in 1954, together with a speedway track. The latter was later used for housing, but a new community centre was opened nearby, together with a leisure centre, an outdoor swimming pool, and later an indoor pool, and supermarkets. There are also light industrial units.
In the 1920S, aIdeD bY goVernmEnT gRantS, tHE coUnCil maDe a staRT On CleaRIng the sLums. tHIS was aiDed By the dEcliNe iN the USe oF CoAl As a fuel FoR shipS. thE slums weRE demoLiShed, anD the iNhaBiTants werE rehOuSEd In NeW houses In tHe britAnNIA avenue Area, tO tHe weSt OF tHE olD vIlLagE oR hamlet oF towNstal. The proCesS WaS iNtErrUPtEd by the seCond wORLd WaR, bUt WAS resumeD With thE coNsTRuctiOn oF mAny pReFabS, anD latEr more hoUses. COmmunity faCILiTIeS were MiNimaL at fIrSt, buT a ceNTral areA waS ReseRved foR a cHUrch, wHiCh WaS uSed by ThE bAPTists and oPeneD in 1954, TOgETHer wIth a SPeedway trACk. The Latter WAs latEr Used for housIng, buT a neW cOmmUNITy cenTRe was openEd neArBy, togEthER witH A LeISurE ceNtRe, aN outDOor sWImmINg pool, and later an indoor poOl, and sUpERmARKets. tHeRe Are AlSo ligHt inDusTrIaL UNITs.