Welcome to the forum

Clay Cross once a bustling small town is expanding as you may be aware.
Market Street once the hub of busy shoppers is pretty quiet these days and businesses are moving across to the Tesco area and beyond.
Depends where exactly you are looking i suppose, as Dansemoor and Holmgate are close by.
It's like many areas - there will be decent streets and those maybe to avoid.
Things to do - if you enjoy walking there is the large fishing pond heading down towards Holmgate - it's just past the Library.
There is a swimming baths which also have other activities such as a gym. During school holidays they used to run activity sessions here - but there is a payable fee.
Also the Miners welfare as I know it ( not sure what they call it now) This is on the same plot as the swimming baths and there used to be a football pitch and tennis courts, again not sure what is on there these days.
I 'think' they moved the junior school from Clay Cross and it's more Danesmoor now, again on the same plot of land as the Welfare and swimming Baths. I can't comment on what it's like though - sorry.
Quite a few pubs around as well.
They also have a Community Centre which is near the Social services building just off Market Street. I think they have Bingo and Dances there sometimes. They hire it out as well.
In the same area is a building which used to be part of the school - it has a clock on the top.
They run various adult classes here and it also has a small cafe.
If I think of anything else I will post.
There may be someone else who can add more.
Hope this helps.