I understand the arguments about not formally closing a station which might be useful in the future should development of the area occur down the line.
However I don't understand the difference between IBM (Halt) or Redcar British Steel, and somewhere like Ardwick. If you can temporarily mothball IBM/RBS, awaiting further development and potential future custom when planning gain would allow you to refurbish and reopen the station, why is the same not being done at Ardwick?
Likewise, if there is money to replace the footbridge at Ardwick because it is unsafe, why is the same not the case at Teesside Airport, or Stanlow and Thornton, or Polesworth, or Pilning?