AN ASSEMBLY member for North Wales has raised "serious questions" over the "controversial appointment" of a new interim chief for Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

Llyr Gruffydd AM has written an open letter to Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for energy, planning and rural affairs, who made the decision to appoint Sir David Henshaw as interim chair of the troubled environmental public service, claiming he has no previous track record in the environmental field and has a controversial history in the public sector.

In the letter, Mr Gruffydd asked the cabinet secretary to explain her "due diligence" in the appointment of Sir David, now living in the Ruthin area, after NRW’s previous chair resigned following a scandal over the sale of timber.

Sir David will remain in the temporary position until spring next year.

Mr Gruffydd said in the letter: "The appointment of Sir David Henshaw as interim chair of Natural Resources Wales raises some serious questions. Sir David has no previous track record in the environmental field nor of working in Wales.

"He was chief executive at Liverpool City Council but was forced to leave under a cloud in 2006 over allegations about sensitive documents being leaked to the UK Government.

"In the same year, he was appointed as chief executive to a North West NHS Trust. This prompted 22 MPs from the region to write an open letter saying they couldn’t work with him.

"In 2010, he was appointed as chief executive of Alder Hey hospital, prompting the man tasked with rebuilding the hospital to resign in protest."

Mr Gruffydd continued to ask Ms Griffiths to "explain what due diligence was carried out" prior to Sir David's appointment and if she was "aware of these controversies" before the decision.

Mr Gruffydd added: "Many in the sector have shared with me their grave concerns that such a controversial appointment is not in the best interests of NRW at this time.

"I would therefore ask, in light of all of the above, that you reconsider your decision to appoint Sir David Henshaw as interim chair of Natural Resources Wales."

In response to the open latter, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “This is a 12 month posting where David Henshaw’s wealth of experience in governance will be used. The appointment has been subject to the approval of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

"Recruitment of a permanent chair will commence in early spring 2019.”