In an effort to shore up its ailing finances and to re-develop the area Basildon has outlined plans to turn the town into a nuclear test site.
Large parts of the district have been deemed sites of unimportant interest thus enabling them to be used to test the governments new HS234 ballistic missile.
Tests will be carried out over the coming months but councilors are keen to point out that the residence will not see many major changes to the area.
"The blasts will just move all the rubbish from one part of the borough to another. Most of the area looks like a bomb site already" said spokesman John Himmler.
Basildon will be paid £15.90 for every piece of ordanace launched on the town. The money raised will enable the council to purchase enough concrete to fully cover any remaining green spaces.
