Gosh, rural living is a lot more sinister than I would have believed.  I genuinely thought they'd make lots of noise - coming, threatening and going away then repeating this sequence from time to time over a period of years.  Not so I guess.  What happens if you don't play ball with them?  Excuse the ignorance.  I know that in the town the town hall have really tightened up on what reforms you can do, especially in the old quarter but spanish neighbours (including residents association) suggest that you should go ahead and do what you want (within reason)and deal with the bureaucracy after the fact.