The Welsh Local Flood Defence Scheme 1996 (“the 1996 Scheme”) was made by the Environment Agency (“the Agency”) under section 17 of the Environment Act 1995 (“the Act”), approved on 19th April 1996 by the Secretary of State for Wales acting under section 17(8) of the Act, and came into force on 1st May 1996. The 1996 Scheme was varied by the Welsh Local Flood Defence Scheme (Variation) Scheme 2000, as approved by the National Assembly for Wales (“the Assembly”) under section 17(8) of the Act.