It all goes back to the same thing, why do people think that  anywhere in Spain, you can do as you wish?
Would you go into a bar in the U.K. and pay someone for a piece of land, house etc?  NO.
Would you use an estate agent, who offers you a solicitor, who is a friend or realtion of theirs? NO.
Would you start to build, or extend a property without permission. NO.
We used an independent English speaking solicitor in Tarragona.
He is even trying to help his previous clients, get cedulas that need them now.
Talking of which everyone here, seems to be in the same boat, with the cedula thing, be it Brits, Catalans, etc.